Chelsea endured a frustrating start to their Premier League campaign, settling for a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, just weeks after lifting the Club World Cup.
Palace thought they had an early breakthrough when Eberechi Eze’s thunderous free-kick found the net, but VAR intervened, ruling out the strike after Marc Guehi was deemed to have impeded the Chelsea wall.
New signing Estevao came closest to delivering a winner for the Blues, but his effort from inside the box flew off target. Despite flashes of promise, Chelsea’s attack lacked sharpness against a resolute Palace defence.
Palace boss Oliver Glasner praised Guehi and Eze amid heavy speculation linking them to Liverpool and Tottenham. “As long as they are 100 percent committed, they will play as they are so good. They didn’t just show they are great footballers, but they are great persons,” Glasner said.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca pointed to a lack of preparation, noting his side had only played two pre-season matches compared to Palace’s eight. “We expected a tough game. Apart from the first half free-kick, we didn’t concede any chances,” Maresca stated.
Elsewhere, Nottingham Forest produced a commanding 3-1 victory over Brentford, easing fears about their transfer inactivity. Chris Wood struck twice, with debutant Dan Ndyoe also scoring, while Igor Thiago’s late penalty served as Brentford’s lone response.
Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo hailed the performance: “It was a very good first half. The combinations were really good, beautiful goals. This is why we are insisting on a good balanced squad that gives us options and solutions.”
Brentford endured a difficult outing under new manager Keith Andrews, who acknowledged his side’s poor first-half showing. The club has lost key figures this summer, including former boss Thomas Frank, captain Christian Norgaard, and top scorer Bryan Mbeumo.
What you should know
Chelsea’s goalless draw with Crystal Palace highlighted concerns about their readiness for the Premier League title race, despite their Club World Cup triumph.
Nottingham Forest, however, impressed with a strong win, while Brentford struggled to adapt following major departures and a managerial change.
