Cesar Azpilicueta has admitted that Chelsea "obviously" need more new players before the transfer window closes after they began their Premier League title defence with a shock 3-2 loss at home to Burnley.
Gary Cahill and Cesc Fabregas were both sent off as Chelsea suffered their first opening-day defeat since 1998, though club-record signing Alvaro Morata lifted Stamford Bridge by coming off the bench to register a goal and an assist in 31 minutes on his Premier League debut.
Antonio Conte handed 20-year-old academy graduate Jeremie Boga his first senior start with Pedro Rodriguez and Eden Hazard both injured, while the average age of the six outfielders on the substitutes' bench was just under 21.
Azpilicueta backed Conte's repeated assertion that Chelsea need more experienced options, claiming that the current situation will not even benefit the youngsters who stand to be given more opportunities on the pitch.
"You can see the players we have lost and the players we have brought in and that it is not the same," he said. "We have good young players but we have to know the reality.
"We know that being champions is even harder the next season -- we have experience of that. Obviously we need players, also for the development of the young players.
"They need the help from top senior players, not to rush them into a position where maybe they are not ready to go at the moment, but they could be in the future. I think it's something that the club is working on with the manager and hopefully we can get new signings in the next few weeks."
Chelsea trailed Burnley 3-0 at half-time after seeing Cahill dismissed in the 14th minute, but fought back impressively after the break with goals from Morata and David Luiz and came agonisingly close to snatching a draw despite losing Fabregas late on.
"Obviously it was a difficult day, but we have to keep going," Azpilicueta added. "It was difficult to be 3-0 down with 10 men. But the way we finished with nine men, pushing... even when sometimes we have won a game, I didn't feel that connection between the team and the crowd.
"It is something that I am pleased about because we can build on that for the future, but in a sporting situation we still have zero points."