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Cole Palmer says his team do not view this campaign's Champions League as a "learning curve" - because they want to be successful in it from the start.

Enzo Maresca's squad were second-best as they lost 3-1 to a seasoned German giants at their home ground on midweek.

It was the club's first appearance in the Champions League since the previous season - and the match highlighted a youthful squad will need to reflect on what it takes to compete at that level.

But head coach the coach indicated his side can gain plenty from the setback and "develop something exceptional" - while forward Palmer has rejected the idea that they can't do that swiftly.

"We are not arriving here for it to be a learning curve," Palmer stated. "The squad have proved tonight we desire to fight and we intend to do as best as we can."

The club won the Club World Cup in July, defeating Paris St-Germain in the USA, having lifted the UECL two months prior, but their previous forward Pat Nevin always thought the elite tournament was going to be a greater test.

"The display was the type of display that I foresaw from them," Nevin commented. "Several people were predicting beforehand that they were going to make an impact in this tournament, they are Club World Cup champions and all of that, but I was thinking, 'steady on'. The gap you require to do to come to venues like this is pretty significant and a group of individuals just haven't have that experience yet. They were not able to do it as a group today."

Chelsea admit shortcomings

The manager may have been broadly satisfied with his side's display, but accepted they lost "full concentration for the full 95 minutes".

He added: "I think the players were fully knowledgeable of this competition, of the difficulties. Teams should not commit errors in the fashion we have made, but I just said to the group, it's a game that we can learn a lot from, and develop something special from this defeat."

Chelsea fared well, notably at the start when their attacker and the midfielder failed to convert clear chances, but lapses hurt them.

They switched off at a drop-ball, leaving Munich's attacker Michael Olise free to send a delivery that Trevoh Chalobah deflected into his net. Then midfielder the Ecuadorian brought down the striker to offer a spot-kick - which the England captain scored.

After Palmer had netted a goal in reply, Kane secured the result in the later stage when back the Frenchman gave away the ball.

They were each backline lapses against ruthless foes. Bayern - a side who have won in their opener in all of their previous 22 UCL editions - know the challenges at this level, in a sense the present Chelsea squad do not.

Will the team address their inexperience?

Pat Nevin commented: "The game couldn't be quite men against boys, but Bayern Munich were definitely a noticeable distance superior of Chelsea here. The errors the team committed were quite naive and they were punished, not only for the goals, but for a multitude of openings aside from that. This is what unfolds with youthful team playing in this league, but they will grow from that. The standard is highest. It is a jump. And that transition may need them a some time."

Youth may certainly have been an problem: At Allianz Arena, the Blues selected their third-youngest ever Champions League squad.

Their full 24-man roster went into midweek's fixture with just 117 appearances in the tournament across them. In comparison, shot-stopper Manuel Neuer, 39, has featured 131 matches in the tournament for Bayern Munich on his own.

His team-mates Kane, Kimmich and Gnabry have considerable experience at this tier. Meanwhile, Chelsea pair Caicedo and the defender were making their debuts in the competition despite being among the club's top players.

Additionally manager the gaffer, formerly on Pep Guardiola's coaching set-up during the Citizens' 2022-23 Treble-winning-winning campaign, may require to elevate to this level.

It felt as if a another Munich score was imminent for a some minutes before Kane netted it - but Maresca seemed delayed to respond, and merely brought on changes after his team had fallen 3-1 behind.

It was too little, yet delayed.