Nemanja Matic: This Is Why Chelsea Are Not Favourites For Premier League Title

Nemanja Matic says Chelsea are not favourites for the Premier League title

Chelsea beat Crystal Palace 1-0 at Selhurst Park yesterday thanks to Diego Costa's first-half header - their 11th Premier League win on the bounce.

It sent Antonio Conte 's side nine points clear at the top of the table and left them well-placed to remain there heading into 2017.

Their absence from European competitions means Chelsea appear strongest placed to take the title from champions Leicester, but Matic is not convinced.

Chelsea beat Crystal Palace 1-0 to move nine points clear at the top of the Premier League

He told the club's official website: "It is a long way to go. We are now almost halfway through the season and we still have many hard games so we are not favourites.

"We are just one of the teams that can now win the title and I am sure there are more than five teams that will try to catch us for first position.

"We can improve of course. Sometimes when we are 1-0 up we have to find a way to kill the game because 1-0 in the Premier League against a team like Crystal Palace is very dangerous, because they can score at any time.

Diego Costa scored Chelsea's winner against Crystal Palace

"They have good attacking players so I am sure that we can improve and that he (manager Antonio Conte) knows what we have to do in the future.

"We are very happy because of our form. How we play is very good and our confidence is high because to win 11 games in a row in the Premier League is not easy.

"We are very happy especially because the last three games we played in a week we won all nine points and I hope we will continue like this."