Chelsea: Enzo Maresca and Cole Palmer upbeat despite Bayern defeat

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca and goalscorer Cole Palmer opted to take the positives despite a 3-1 defeat to Bayern Munich on the Blues’ return to the Champions League.

The Conference League and Club World Cup champions were playing their first match in Europe’s elite club competition since 2023, but, unlike in 2012 when they lifted the trophy, this trip to the Allianz Arena for Chelsea was an unhappy one.

A Harry Kane brace and Trevor Chabolah own goal gave the German giants victory but Chelsea troubled their hosts in spells and pulled one back through Palmer’s sublime finish with the score at 2-0.

Defeat in Munich. #CFC | #UCL pic.twitter.com/mAcMCIpKgo

And despite the result, Maresca insisted he was pleased with his players’ showing.

“Overall I think the performance was quite good. We started very well for the first 20 minutes, creating two or three clear chances,” the Chelsea boss told TNT Sports.

“Then when we concede, we can avoid that kind of goal. The game changed a little bit but we were in the game, we score a goal.