Cole Palmer: Chelsea deserved more in Champions League clash with Bayern Munich

Cole Palmer thinks Chelsea “deserved more” than the 3-1 defeat to Bayern Munich that opened their Champions League campaign.

The Blues were playing in the competition for the first time in almost two-and-a-half years and gave an impressive account of themselves despite the result.

It was a matter, in the end, of Bayern’s greater experience, punishing lapses in Chelsea concentration, first when Serge Gnabry was left unmarked to cross for a Trevoh Chalobah own goal then again when Moises Caicedo needlessly fouled Harry Kane for a penalty which the England captain converted.

Palmer’s brilliant finish then made it 2-1 before the Bundesliga champions finished the job via Kane in the second half, following another lapse by the visitors inside their own half.

“I feel like we deserved more to be honest,” said Palmer.

“We started well and I think we had early chances to score, but when you make mistakes at the highest level then it’s hard to come back into the game.

“There was a bit of a lack of concentration and not managing the moments correctly, but I feel like we showed we can play against one of the best teams in the competition. I think we deserved more.”

Palmer was starting for only the second time this season following injury, deployed on the right wing by Enzo Maresca with Enzo Fernandez moved up the pitch to number 10.

It enabled Chelsea to take the game to Bayern in the first half and they might have led when Palmer found Fernandez free inside the box early, only for the recovering Konrad Laimer to intervene before he could shoot.

Two goals in seven minutes for Bayern then changed the shape of the game, and though Palmer reduced the arrears, there was to be no famous European fightback for travelling fans.

The defeat might have been heavier but for an outstanding save from Robert Sanchez to deny Michael Olise from close range.

“The manager said to us before that he knows we can go toe-to-toe with anyone, and I think we showed that here despite the result,” said Palmer.

“It’s a good learning curve for tonight and to be back in the competition is nice, so we just need to kick on from here.”

Next up for Chelsea are meetings with Benfica and Ajax at Stamford Bridge before the long journey to Azerbaijan to face Qarabag.

“We’re not in this competition for it to be a learning curve for us,” said Palmer. “I feel like we showed here that we can compete and we want to do as best as we can.”