Boss Rafa is still optimistic of achieving title glory this season despite our loss to rivals Chelsea today.

Rafa said: “We have to focus on the next game, get three points and see what happens.

“This year the top sides will lose points against other teams, so we just have to try to win every week.

“We will try to win against Sunderland and see. It’s a long race and we have to think about the next game, that’s it.”

“The performance wasn’t bad against a good team. We worked hard and had some good play,” he said.

“I was really pleased for 90 per cent of the game but you have to do almost everything perfectly to win here.

“Defensively we were good enough. We defended much better. They didn’t have many chances, which means we were defending better, and we didn’t have many chances, which means they are a good team.

“When you make a mistake against a good team, you pay for it. We lost the ball and they scored.

“The game was open after the goal. We had some chances but you have to take your chances if you want to change the situation.

“I cannot blame any one of the players because they were working really hard. You have to be pleased with the team effort and disappointed with the result.”

“We played against Chelsea. Do you expect any team to play here and have 20 attempts? I don’t think so.

“We had some chances but we couldn’t score because their defenders are good defenders.”