Chelsea kicked off their 2025/26 Premier League season with a frustrating 0-0 draw at home to Crystal Palace.
The Blues have been forced to zip through a compacted preseason, following their FIFA Club World Cup title win in July, and they lacked sharpness at a sun-soaked Stamford Bridge.
Palace star Eberechi Eze saw his early free-kick goal ruled out by VAR, following a foul by Eagles captain Marc Guehi, before Robert Sanchez denied Jean-Phillippe Mateta.
The Blues improved after the break and Maresca's late substitutions almost tipped the balance late on as Liam Delap and Willian Estevao were both denied goals on their Chelsea Premier League debuts.
Maresca handed club top-flight debuts to Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens from the start but none of new faces could breach Palace's solid defensive effort.
The Italian coach was not keen to read too much into the final result but admitted concern over how many of his new faces are Premier League ready.
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"It was a tough game and 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 Sky Sports, as per BBC Sport.
"We could have counter attacked better, we could have defended better, but it's only the first game of the season.
"Some of them [the new players] are ready, some of them need to adapt a little bit, overall very happy with them."
Maresca also reiterated his aim to sign a new central defender before the end of August following Levi Colwill's ACL surgery.
The England international is expected to be out of action until mid-2026 with Benoit Badiashile still sidelined.
19-year-old Josh Acheampong started alongside Trevoh Chalobah against Palace with Wesley Fofana remaining on the bench.
Up next for Chelsea is a trip to rivals West Ham United on August 22.
Chelsea news and related links
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- Maresca confirms who Chelsea could sign next this summer