Chelsea 0-0 Palace: Maresca Frustrated as Blues Stumble in Opener

Chelsea Every word Enzo Maresca said on Chelsea's injury worries, Estevao display and Crystal Palace draw The full transcript from Stamford Bridge as Enzo Maresca just conducted his post-match press conference following Chelsea's goalless draw with Crystal Palace in the Premier League footballlondon Bookmark Share Comments Chelsea By Bobby Vincent Chelsea Writer 16:51, 17 AUG 2025 Bookmark Enzo Maresca during Chelsea's goalless draw with Crystal Palace (Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC) Sign up to the free Chelsea newsletter for the latest Blues news straight to your inbox More Newsletters Subscribe Please enter a valid email Something went wrong, please try again later. More Newsletters We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show me See Our Privacy Notice See Our Privacy Notice × Group 28 Sign up to the free Chelsea newsletter for the latest Blues news straight to your inbox Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign Up No thanks, close We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info × Group 28 Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show Me No thanks, close See our Privacy Notice Enzo Maresca has just conducted his first post-match press conference of the 2025/26 Premier League season following Chelsea's goalless draw with Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge. The Blues were unable to break down the Eagles in SW6 in what turned out to be a frustrating afternoon for the world champions. Maresca , who was animated on the side as he so often is, has just given us his thoughts on the game as a whole - and here is every word the Chelsea head coach had to say: Is there a sense of frustration to not get the winning goal? We always try to win the game. Unfortunately, we didn't win, but I think overall we deserve [to win], we create enough chances between the first-half and second-half. Apart from the free-kick where the goal was disallowed, I don't think we concede chances. But at the same time, we know how tough they are, how well organised they are. And this is the reason why they beat Liverpool and won the last two finals. How did you rate Estevao Willian's display? He was very good. He showed personality, he's already shown that in the training sessions. For sure, no doubt that slowly, slowly he will be a very important player for this club. How do you think Josh Acheampong played? Very good, very good. We already showed confidence on Josh last year. He played already some games. Today he did very well, he dealt with Mateta very well. So overall, he did a good game. This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more Sky Sports deal Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more. Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more. £35 Sky Get Sky Sports here Do you think we could see at all the fact that Chelsea had a smaller pre-season than Crystal Palace and many other teams in today's game? I don't think so, because until the end we compete. We try to win the game. I think we had some chances at the end with Estevao, with Andrey Santos. So that showed that probably we compete overall quite good. For sure, they already played, I think, seven, eight games. And for us, last week we played two games, but we tried to share minutes. So the real game for us was today. But for sure, slowly, slowly we're going to be better. Crystal Palace would probably be aggrieved that the free-kick was ruled out, but were you a bit frustrated that Mateta didn't get a second yellow for the tackle on Caicedo? No, I was there, I was close. For sure it was foul. The referee decided not to give the yellow card, so that was OK. How serious is Tosin Adarabioyo's injury? He had a physical problem, we don't know for how long. Wes [Fofana] was on the bench, but he was just on the bench to be with us. The plan was not to get any minutes. And now, hopefully for the next one, we can start to use Wes for more minutes. You mentioned Tosin is the only one that can play in Levi Colwill's role. Is this an injury you're really worried about? I already spoke about that. How important is it you find the cutting edge sooner rather than later? I said many times that I don't think about June or May, the title, or when the season will finish. I always try to speak or try to think about the next one, the next game. So for me, it's about Friday's game, no more than that. Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Follow Football London Facebook X (Twitter) Comment More On Enzo Maresca Chelsea press conference Chelsea vs Crystal Palace Chelsea Premier League

Enzo Maresca during Chelsea's goalless draw with Crystal Palace (Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)

Enzo Maresca has just conducted his first post-match press conference of the 2025/26 Premier League season following Chelsea's goalless draw with Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues were unable to break down the Eagles in SW6 in what turned out to be a frustrating afternoon for the world champions. Maresca , who was animated on the side as he so often is, has just given us his thoughts on the game as a whole - and here is every word the Chelsea head coach had to say:

Is there a sense of frustration to not get the winning goal?

We always try to win the game. Unfortunately, we didn't win, but I think overall we deserve [to win], we create enough chances between the first-half and second-half. Apart from the free-kick where the goal was disallowed, I don't think we concede chances.

But at the same time, we know how tough they are, how well organised they are. And this is the reason why they beat Liverpool and won the last two finals.

How did you rate Estevao Willian's display?

He was very good. He showed personality, he's already shown that in the training sessions. For sure, no doubt that slowly, slowly he will be a very important player for this club.

How do you think Josh Acheampong played?

Very good, very good. We already showed confidence on Josh last year. He played already some games. Today he did very well, he dealt with Mateta very well. So overall, he did a good game.

Do you think we could see at all the fact that Chelsea had a smaller pre-season than Crystal Palace and many other teams in today's game?

I don't think so, because until the end we compete. We try to win the game. I think we had some chances at the end with Estevao, with Andrey Santos. So that showed that probably we compete overall quite good. For sure, they already played, I think, seven, eight games. And for us, last week we played two games, but we tried to share minutes. So the real game for us was today. But for sure, slowly, slowly we're going to be better.

Crystal Palace would probably be aggrieved that the free-kick was ruled out, but were you a bit frustrated that Mateta didn't get a second yellow for the tackle on Caicedo?

No, I was there, I was close. For sure it was foul. The referee decided not to give the yellow card, so that was OK.

How serious is Tosin Adarabioyo's injury?

He had a physical problem, we don't know for how long. Wes [Fofana] was on the bench, but he was just on the bench to be with us. The plan was not to get any minutes. And now, hopefully for the next one, we can start to use Wes for more minutes.

You mentioned Tosin is the only one that can play in Levi Colwill's role. Is this an injury you're really worried about?

I already spoke about that.

How important is it you find the cutting edge sooner rather than later?

I said many times that I don't think about June or May, the title, or when the season will finish. I always try to speak or try to think about the next one, the next game. So for me, it's about Friday's game, no more than that.