Enzo Maresca has suggested that Chelsea will use the January transfer market to sign defensive reinforcements.
The Italian's side have kept just one clean sheet in their last nine games in all competitions and are currently having to make do without central defenders Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile, both of whom are injured.
Fofana is expected to miss the remainder of the season with a hamstring injury, while Badiashile will be out until at least February.
Against Crystal Palace on Saturday, Maresca chose to start 18-year-old Josh Acheampong in central defence, handing the teenager his first-ever Premier League start.
Speaking after the game, which finished 1-1, Maresca heaped praise on Acheampong, but also suggested that he is not ready to play regularly just yet.
“All the players, for me, were good but if I had to decide for one, I think for sure, Josh was our best player because of his age, it was his first game,” Maresca said, according to Goal. “Josh, for me, can be a top player for this club but he needs the right path, the right moment; for young players, you need to decide which moment."
"I think he showed how good he is," he added. "[But] because of his age, he needs to slow down, work hard and take his next chance."
Asked what Acheampong's performance meant for Chelsea's potential January transfer business, Maresca said: “Probably with Wes and Benoit injuries, we will see if something is going to happen."
Enzo Maresca on Palace draw: "We did enough to win"
Chelsea took the lead against Palace on Saturday after just 14 minutes when Cole Palmer slotted home his 13th goal of the season after a terrific solo run and pass by Jadon Sancho.
The Blues pushed for additional goals, but Nicolas Jackson squandered three opportunities, while Sancho, Moises Caicedo, and Pedro Neto also sent shots wide.
Maresca's side were then made to pay for those wasted chances in the 82nd minute when Jean-Philippe Mateta tapped in Eberechi Eze's squared ball to level the scores and rescue a point for Palace.
Maresca suggested after the final whistle that he was disappointed his team didn't leave Selhurst Park with all three points.
"Probably we did enough to win the game today," he said. "Between the first half and the second half I think we created enough chances to win the game, but going forward you need to be clinical, otherwise the game is always open, especially in this stadium."
"Any transition, any corner, brought energy for them. Unfortunately at the end we conceded but overall today I think we did enough to win," he added.
The draw with Palace means Chelsea are now without a win in four games in the top flight, having previously drawn with Everton and lost to both Fulham and Ipswich Town.
In the Premier League, the Blues next face Bournemouth on January 14.
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