Enzo Maresca stressed the positives after Chelsea opened their Premier League campaign with a goalless draw against Crystal Palace, insisting his side will improve as the weeks go on.
The Italian coach clung to his team’s clean sheet as a source of encouragement, despite the Blues’ subdued performance at Stamford Bridge following a pre-match celebration of their Club World Cup triumph.
“I don’t think about where we’ll finish in May or June,” Maresca said. “I only think about the next game. For now, it’s just about Friday at West Ham, no more than that.”
Chelsea endured a disjointed pre-season and Maresca refused to use it as an excuse, though he pointed out the difference in preparation compared with Palace. “They played about eight games, we played just two, so we tried our best.
“We didn’t lose a clean sheet. Until the end, we competed, we tried to win the game and we had some chances with Estevao and Andrey Santos. Slowly, slowly we’re going to be better.”
The Blues survived a scare when Eberechi Eze’s stunning free-kick was disallowed because Marc Guehi was deemed too close to the wall.
Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez insisted there had also been a foul in the build-up: “Moises gets pushed into the gap – that’s why I couldn’t see at all, and the ball goes over my head. For me, it has to be a foul, 100 per cent.”
On the other side, Palace boss Oliver Glasner praised the focus of Eze and Guehi amid constant transfer speculation.
Eze, who applauded the travelling supporters when substituted late on, looked as though he might be bidding farewell, but Glasner dismissed that interpretation. “If most of the things written about them were true, they could not perform like this.
“I expect Eb to be back playing for us against Fredrikstad on Thursday. He has a contract with Crystal Palace and as long as he performs like this, he will continue to play for us.”
Glasner admitted he was disappointed not to see Eze’s strike stand: “I was a little bit surprised when his free-kick was not allowed. Hopefully next time we can celebrate.”
