Chelsea were held to a goalless draw by Crystal Palace in the opening round of the Premier League at Stamford Bridge. The Blues created the clearest chances in the second half, with Liam Delap and Andrey Santos coming close late on.
After the match, Enzo Maresca spoke to the press, reflecting on a result he felt Chelsea deserved and the performance against the Eagles in SW6. “We always try to win the game. Unfortunately, we didn’t win, but I think overall we deserved to win; we created enough chances between the first and second halves. Apart from the free-kick that was ruled out, I don’t think we conceded clear chances.” He added that Palace are a tough opponent, well-organized, and that their level is part of why they’ve come through big tests recently.
Estevão Willian made his cameo in the second half, and Maresca highlighted his impact. “He was very good. He showed personality, and he’s already shown that in training. Slowly, he will certainly become a very important player for this club.”
With Levi Colwill and Tosin Adarabioyo sidelined, young centre-back Josh Acheampong started and impressed the Chelsea boss. “Very good, very good. We’ve shown trust in Josh before; he’s already played some games. Today he did very well, handling Mateta well. Overall, he had a good game.”
Chelsea did not enjoy a perfect pre-season and kicked off the league a little over a month after lifting the Club World Cup in the United States. Maresca suggested that this hadn’t a major impact on the result, noting the late chances for Estevão and Santos. “No, I don’t think so, because we competed until the end. We created some chances at the end, so it showed we competed well overall. They’ve played a number of games; we’ve played fewer, sharing minutes. The real game for us was today, and gradually we’ll get better.”
Palace had a free-kick goal by Eberechi Eze ruled out after a VAR review, and Mateta escaped a second yellow when a late challenge on Moises Caicedo went unpunished. Maresca avoided getting drawn into the controversy when asked about the incidents, saying he was close enough to know there was contact, but the referee’s decision stood.
There was another update on Tosin Adarabioyo, with reports suggesting a late injury scare, though Maresca clarified it was a minor physical issue. Wes Fofana remained available on the bench, with the plan to ease him back into action for longer spells.
Chelsea leave the weekend with one point from the first round and Maresca underscored the need to focus on the next game rather than the bigger picture. “I’ve often said I don’t think about June or May or the title. I try to speak about the next match, and that’s what I’ll keep doing.”
What it means going forward
– Chelsea showed promising signs from their younger players, notably Josh Acheampong and Estevão Willian, suggesting a growing depth in the squad.
– The decision to lean on a mix of academy products and new signings indicates a long-term plan that could bear fruit as the season progresses.
– The immediate test will be how the team responds in Friday’s fixture, as Maresca keeps the focus firmly on the next match.
Summary
Chelsea started the season with a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace, offering glimpses of promise from a new-look side. Mentions of young talent, tactical resilience, and a focus on the immediate next game paint a cautiously optimistic picture as Enzo Maresca steers the club through early-season adaptation.