Enzo Maresca Points At A Few Things Chelsea Could Have Done Better Against Palace

Maresca Reflects on Missed Details as Chelsea Begin Season with Stalemate Against Palace

Chelsea opened their 2025/26 Premier League campaign with a frustrating goalless draw at home to Crystal Palace, and while Enzo Maresca’s side took a point and a clean sheet, the manager was clear-eyed about what his players could have sharpened on the day.

Maresca, entering his second season after guiding Chelsea back into the top four last term, acknowledged both the solidity on show and the shortcomings in execution. “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,” he told BBC Match of the Day.

Still, the Italian identified lapses that stalled Chelsea’s momentum. “We could have counterattacked better, we could have defended better, but it is only the first game of the season,” he said.

With Palace sitting compact and looking to spring forward, Chelsea struggled to turn promising openings into decisive attacks, leaving their play measured but lacking a killer edge.

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The Blues had their preparation disrupted by a shortened summer following Club World Cup duties, and Maresca suggested that the lack of rhythm played its part.

“They [Palace] played about eight games, we played two, so we tried our best. We didn’t lose a clean sheet,” he noted, hinting that sharper match fitness would help improve their tempo in the coming weeks.

Maresca also handed league debuts to several new arrivals and was pleased with their overall contribution, even if the full adjustment is still to come.

“Some of them are ready, some of them need to adapt a little bit, but overall, very happy with all of them,” he said, signalling patience as the squad finds cohesion.

The contest nearly swung Palace’s way when Eberechi Eze found the net from a free-kick, only for VAR to rule it out due to an infringement by Marc Guehi in the Chelsea wall. “When they scored, I didn’t see that, but when they reviewed it, I saw that it was a foul,” Maresca admitted of the incident.

When pressed on Chelsea’s pursuit of another central defender, Maresca was quick to move on: “You like to talk about central defenders? I already spoke. Thank you very much.” His focus remained firmly on the pitch rather than the transfer window.

A goalless opener may not have been the statement Chelsea hoped for, but Maresca’s measured tone suggested perspective.

The defensive base is in place, and the next steps for the Blues are sharper counters and cleaner finishing as they build into the new campaign.