Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has conceded defeat in the Premier League title race following the 1-0 loss at Crystal Palace.

A John Terry own goal earned the Eagles a lifeline in their battle against relegation.

Chelsea’s concerns are at the top of the table and they have played more games than rivals Manchester City and Liverpool.

A second successive away loss saw Mourinho admit his hopes of a third title are over with six matches to go.

Mourinho said: “We depend too much on other results. When you depend a little it’s possible, when you depend a lot, I don’t think it’s possible.

“We depend now too much. I don’t think now we can win the league.”

Mourinho absolved his defenders — Branislav Ivanovic, Gary Cahill, Terry and Cesar Azpilicueta — of blame for the loss to Palace, but was not shy at pointing fingers at others.

Mourinho said: “My four defenders, phenomenal performance, as always. The others I’d prefer not to analyse individually.”

Asked what quality is required for his side, Mourinho said: “I cannot say in front of the cameras. I can write it on paper.”

Offered a notepad after the media conference, the Portuguese wrote “balls.”

He had made his discontent clear.

“We missed some qualities,” he said. “Mentality and a little bit of quality. Mentality because the opponents beat us clearly on that. Strong mentality, aggressive, committed.

“Every one of them played, I think, at the top of their potential and that, in football, is important.

“Clearly we have some players, because of their profile, who find it difficult to perform in some profile of matches.

“You have Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill and Azpilicueta and they perform in the sun, in the rain, small pitches, big pitches, aggressive teams, non-aggressive teams, possession teams, not possession teams and they perform every game from day one to the last day.

“And you have other players who are fantastic in some matches and disappear in other matches.”

Chelsea have now lost five games this season, all away.