The victory marked Chelsea's first European win of the season and their second win in all competitions this month.

The winning goal was scored by Benfica's Richard Rios, who accidentally kicked the ball into his own net following good play from Pedro Neto.

Benfica had several opportunities to score, but Maresca believes his team is improving with each game.

In an interview, Maresca stated, "The team's effort was very good. In the first half, we managed the ball better and created more chances. However, in the second half, we struggled to maintain that level."

He also discussed the team's defensive performance, saying, "We've conceded a few goals in our last few games, and we need to improve our defense. But a clean sheet is always a positive outcome."

Maresca was also asked about Joao Pedro's late red card and replied, "It's good to see that we're improving as a team, and we can win even with 10 players on the field. However, Pedro's actions were questionable, and it was a dangerous situation."

Maresca emphasized that his team is on a journey of improvement, saying, "We're just getting started this season, and with each game, we're getting better."