Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew has claimed that his side can compete for a Europa League position in the Premier League this season.
The Eagles face champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, and Pardew says that his side are "evolving quickly".
"Playing Chelsea and Manchester City early in the season is better because teams get battle hardened as games go on, and there is a bit of looseness in teams early on," he told reporters.
"Chelsea is always a difficult game at the Bridge, I go there a lot so I know the manager very well. Mourinho gets his team organised in such a way that they can counter attack you at any given time, you have to be on your guard and the concentration levels needed to win there are really high."
"We have players who can produce games that don't look like they are going anywhere, and then they give us the lead and we can win games. You need a bit of luck as well, you can't just put in your best performance."
He added: "Chelsea have some new players and they are integrating those. They have a side that looks to me could be better than last year, and last year that side won the league. But we are evolving quickly, and I think we can compete with Everton and below. We can really push for a Europa League spot this year, and why not? We've won three so we should have that ambition."
Palace defeated Aston Villa 2-1 last Saturday and are currently fifth in the Premier League.
Miles Jolliffe
