And he defended his decision to play Torres alone, claiming Drogba merely needed a break, after the Italian manager insisting last week the pair can play together in the same starting line-up.
Ancelotti added: "Fernando played well. He used his ability to move. He had some opportunities in the first half and I took him out just to use Didier fresh and with power.
"That's the only reason I changed him. His performance was better than that against Liverpool. It was a normal rotation. We have a lot of games and I want to maintain the players fresh."
David Luiz was assured in his first start for Chelsea, until the last minute when he pushed Clint Dempsey for the penalty.
Fulham manager Mark Hughes, meanwhile, was aggrieved at ending with a draw after holding Chelsea at bay for much of the game.
And he criticised referee Mike Dean for failing to rule that the penalty be retaken, after he claimed Drogba encroached on Dempsey as he was going to take it.
Hughes said: "Given the circumstances at the end, it's disappointment. We came up against a strong Chelsea side who posed questions of us in the second half, and we had to be strong and resilient."
"We've been playing well of late and showed real character to dig in and create chances at the other end.
"The penalty should have been retaken anyway because Drogba was encroaching in the box. Mike Dean saw it: he was alongside Clint as he kicked it.
"Mike Dean saw that, so it should have been retaken. It''s a moot point, though, I suppose."
AFP