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Kurt Zouma calls on Chelsea to improve following poor start

Kurt Zouma of Chelsea
Image: Kurt Zouma believes Chelsea need to recover quickly from their poor start

Kurt Zouma says Chelsea must “improve everything” to get their Premier League title defence back on track.

The defending champions have endured a poor start to the new season and were defeated 2-1 by Crystal Palace - the team against whom they secured the title in May - at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. 

It was Chelsea's second defeat of the campaign and only the second loss in manager Jose Mourinho's 100 Premier League home matches, leaving them eight points behind rivals Manchester City. 

"We have to improve everything," Zouma told Chelsea TV.

"Mentally we have to improve. The season after we are champions, it's really difficult to prepare ourselves.

"To improve is more difficult, but we have to improve ourselves and keep going, keep working."

Bakary Sako's opener was cancelled out by Radamel Falcao's first Chelsea goal, but Joel Ward restored Palace's lead to give the visitors' their first win at Stamford Bridge in 33 years.

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And Zouma believes the international break comes at a good time for Chelsea, who face Everton next at Goodison Park on September 12.

They could yet add Toffees defender John Stones to their ranks, but the Merseyside club have so far resisted three big-money offers.

"We have to think about winning points and after the break will be good for us, I think," Zouma added.

Mourinho felt Chelsea should have had a penalty when the game was goalless, when Zouma had his shirt pulled by Connor Wickham.

"I think it was a penalty kick. The referee didn't whistle, but the game wasn't over with that," Zouma said. 

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