Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has acknowledged that his team's performance was below par in their Premier League season opener, which ended in a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace on Sunday at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues struggled to create meaningful chances throughout the match, with Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson rarely tested during the 90 minutes. The stalemate leaves Chelsea with just a point from their first fixture of the 2025/26 campaign.
The most significant moment of the match came in the first half when Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze appeared to have scored from a free-kick, but the goal was disallowed for a foul in the build-up.
Speaking to BBC Match of the Day after the game, Maresca said: "Tough game, we expected a tough game. Apart from the first half free-kick, we didn't concede any chances but they are a very good team."
The Italian tactician identified specific areas where his team fell short. "We could have counter attacked better, we could have defended better but it is only the first game of the season," he explained.
Maresca also pointed to Chelsea's limited pre-season preparation as a contributing factor to their underwhelming display. "They played about eight games, we played just two so we tried our best. We didn't lose a clean sheet," he added, highlighting the positive of starting the season with a defensive shutout.
The result raises questions about Chelsea's readiness for the new season, particularly their attacking prowess under Maresca's system. The Blues will be looking to improve when they face their next Premier League challenge.
In related Premier League action, Arsenal secured a 1-0 victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford, with new signing Calafiori scoring the decisive goal.
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