Chelsea are ready to thrive in Champions League - the England star declares

Cole Palmer insists his team do not consider this edition of the Champions League as a "development phase" - as they intend to be strong in it straight away.

Chelsea's team were beaten as they lost 3-1 to a seasoned Bavarian side at Allianz Arena on midweek.

It was the team's first outing in the competition since the previous season - and the fixture highlighted a inexperienced side will need to improve on what it takes to succeed at that level.

But gaffer Maresca indicated his side can gain plenty from the loss and "build something special" - while attacker Palmer has disputed the idea that they can't do that quickly.

"The team are not arriving here for it to be a growth opportunity," he said. "They have shown tonight we desire to fight and we want to do as best as we are able."

The club won the CWC in last month, beating PSG in the USA, having captured the UECL two months before, but Chelsea's former player Pat Nevin always felt the elite tournament was going to be a bigger test.

"It was the sort of showing that I anticipated from them," Nevin commented. "A lot people were predicting in advance that they were going to make an impact in this competition, they are CWC champions and such, but I was saying, 'steady on'. The step up you need to do to come to places like this is very significant and a group of members just haven't have that exposure at this point. They weren't able to do it as a unit today."

The team admit shortcomings

The manager may have been broadly satisfied with his side's showing, but conceded they lacked "full focus for the whole 95 minutes".

He continued: "Believe the team were well aware of this competition, of the obstacles. Players should not commit blunders in the manner we have made, but I just told to the team, it's a fixture that we can gain a lot from, and build something great from this defeat."

Chelsea fared strongly, especially at the start when the winger and Enzo Fernandez wasted great opportunities, but errors cost them.

They drifted at a drop-ball, allowing Bayern winger Olise open to cross a ball that the defender guided into his goal. Then engine Caicedo tripped the striker to offer a foul - which the skipper converted.

After Cole had scored a goal in reply, Kane secured victory in the second half when full-back the Frenchman surrendered the ball.

They were each team lapses against clinical rivals. Munich - a team who have succeeded in their initial game in every of their past 22 UCL campaigns - know the ropes at this level, in a sense the existing Chelsea squad have yet to.

Will the Blues overcome their inexperience?

Pat Nevin commented: "The match wasn't exactly men against boys, but the hosts were clearly a good level ahead of the visitors here. The blunders the team did were quite immature and they were exposed, not only for the goals, but for a multitude of openings besides that. It's what unfolds with young players competing in this league, but they will improve from that. The quality is top. It is a jump. And that gap may need them a some time."

Lack of exposure may well have been an problem: In Munich, Chelsea fielded their very youthful in history European team.

Their full 24-man roster started Wednesday's fixture with merely 117 games in the tournament across them. By contrast, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, 39, has played 131 matches in the Champions League for Bayern Munich alone.

His team-mates Kane, Kimmich and the winger have considerable knowledge at this tier. Meanwhile, Chelsea pair the midfielder and the defender were playing their debuts in the tournament despite being within the team's top players.

Additionally head coach the gaffer, part of Guardiola's team during the Citizens' 2023 triple-winning season, may need to elevate to this standard.

It appeared as if a additional Munich score was imminent for a several minutes before Kane converted it - but the coach seemed reluctant to react, and just made substitutions after his team had gone 3-1 down.

It was too little, yet too late.