Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has blamed his side's 3-3 draw with Roma in the Champions League on the absence of three key players in his squad, including Victor Moses.

A brace from Eden Hazard and an additional tally from David Luiz counted for nothing, with the Italian opponents replying through former Manchester City stars Aleksandar Kolarov and Edin Dzeko.

Moses picked up a hamstring injury in last weekend's defeat to Crystal Palace, former Leicester man Danny Drinkwater is out with a calf injury and Frenchman N'Golo Kanté suffered a hamstring injury while on international duty.

''We must realise we had three important players out, Kante, Drinkwater and Moses, and this gives us problems, but I am not looking for excuses now,'' Conte was quoted as saying by chelseafc.com.

''I tried an extra defender to protect more the team, but in terms of the style and system I want to see, it must always be the same.''

Antonio Conte won't be able to utilize Moses, Kante and Drinkwater when his side host Watford in the Premier League on Saturday, October 21.

Igho Kingsley