Every word Enzo Maresca said on Chelsea mistakes, Cole Palmer injury and Bayern Munich defeat

Enzo Maresca has just completed his post-match press conference following Chelsea's 3-1 defeat by Bayern Munich. On their return to the Champions League for the first time in nearly two and a half years, it was a disappointing evening for the Blues.

Harry Kane struck twice for Bayern to inflict an opening-night defeat on old foes Chelsea. The former Tottenham striker admitted he was even more “motivated” to be reunited with his long-time rivals in the Champions League.

And Kane gave Chelsea a firm reminder of his talent with two goals to add to Trevoh Chalobah’s own goal in a convincing start for the German giants. Cole Palmer did his best to haul Chelsea back into it, scoring a world-class effort for their reply before seeing a late goal disallowed by VAR, but ultimately to no avail.

Bobby Vincent was in attendance for Maresca's press conference and has compiled together a full transcript:

What were your reflections from that match?

I think the first 20 minutes we started very, very good, creating two key chances without conceding nothing. Then we conceded the goal and we cannot with that kind of goal. The dynamic changed a little bit, but even with that we won the game, we continued to play, we scored a goal. Probably the goal we scored is also a tough decision from the referee because you can judge in a different way, but no problem.

I do not agree with you because you told me the second half was much better than the first half until the goal we conceded, and then again for 10 minutes after the goal we conceded. This kind of competition, I guess this team required to be full focus and play right away for 95 minutes. I think we played good, but not for the entire game.

Do you think Jonathan Tah should have been sent off?

For me it should have been a red card, because there is not... I always said it was a red card when there is no intention to go for the ball just when the intention is to kick another player. Why is it not a red card? The referee said it was not hard or aggressive enough. In any case you try. So to give you a red card, they need to see your blood or they need to see something. If the intention is to go there, it's a red card. So for me there is not any doubt.

Do you think it could have or would have been a different result if there had been a red card for Jonathan Tah?

Personally I'm happy with the performance, because we knew how difficult it was to come here against this team. We knew that it was a very tough game, a difficult game, but overall I think we competed very well. In the first 20 minutes, again, we didn't concede nothing, we created two chances, then we conceded the goal and changed the game, but even with that goal and the game until the end, for sure it's very difficult to come here and to control the game for 95-100 minutes. This is not a reality.

Was this a good reminder for the players, the level of the Champions League, because you only really made three mistakes and they all led to goals?

To be honest, I think the players were already aware of this competition, of the difficulties. You cannot commit mistakes in the way we have done, but it's a game that, I just said to the players, it's a game that we can learn a lot and build something special from this defeat.

So next it's Benfica. Looks like it's going to be Jose Mourinho's Benfica, a return of a Chelsea legend. Are you looking forward to that?

Absolutely. Absolutely, yes. He's a legend for the club, he's a legend in general for the trophies and achievements.

Is Cole Palmer okay? He was holding his groin. And will this be a learning curve for your inexperienced players?

Cole, I think he's okay. I asked him after the game, he said that he's okay. Then in terms of experience between them and us, I think there was a huge difference. Because of the games they played, or because of the age, it doesn't matter. But even without, we're sure that we compete in the right way. To come to this stage, I've been already in this stage playing Champions League games as assistant manager or as assistant coach. With Sevilla, with City, it's quite difficult to come here and compete.

Against this team and try to dominate and control the game for 95 minutes, 100 minutes. This is not reality. It's difficult to adapt. So, in the way we compete for part of the game, we were very good. Probably the mistake we did, it's something that we can learn from that. And as I said, I have the feeling that we can build something special from this defeat.

Did you think it was a penalty for Bayern?

I didn't review it, to be honest. So, I don't know. If you watch on television, you can tell me if you think that was a penalty or not.

Pressure on Chelsea because of the new format?

I don't know. We have still seven games. I don't know how many games we need to win. I don't know how many games we can afford to lose. No idea. We have seven more games, so there are plenty of points.