Maresca gave a balanced assessment of the performance, saying: “In this moment, we started just two weeks ago, it’s important that us as the staff and the people can start to see the identity of the team. Tonight it was quite clear.
“For sure we are going to add more solutions.”
In the first half Chelsea used Reece James as an inverted full-back, pushing into midfield. Maresca added: “We tried to build with three and two. First-half with James inside and second-half with Malo [Gusto] inside.
“It does not matter about the level of the opposition; when they sit back with 11 players behind the ball, it’s always difficult to find space and solutions are not easy.”
There were appearances for Wesley Fofana, who missed the entire 2023-24 campaign with a long-term injury, and Romeo Lavia, who managed just 32 minutes last season.
Maresca said: “They are both very important. At this moment for them, it is important to get minutes, to use every training session. For one year without getting minutes, it is difficult mentally. They need a boost, energy and 45 minutes is going to help both of them.
“Like I said, the result for us is always important but in this moment, also we need to judge different things.”
The Blues next face Scottish champions Celtic in Notra Dame on Saturday night (Sunday morning BST) as Maresca continues to learn about his squad. “Tonight the target was to give all of them 45 minutes. It is too early to think about the first XI.
“Also, because we have four or five players not with us. It was important to see the team with one clear identity and I think it was there.”