Chelsea keeper Petr Cech insists the club can take plenty of positives from their Community Shield defeat by Manchester City on Sunday.
The European champions and FA Cup winners lost out 3-2 to Premier League champions Manchester City.
But Cech insists the early sending off of Branislav Ivanovic was the key factor in the Blues losing at Villa Park.
"We had quite a good first half, we went 1-0 up and it was an equal, interesting game for the first one of the season, but then unfortunately the red card happened and in the second half they took advantage of having a man more," said the Czech ace.
"We now have the most unfortunate international break, which is not ideal but the players go off, then we come back and the season starts on Sunday.
"We can take positives from this game but hopefully next week we will be fitter and sharper, Manchester City was a step forward and I am sure we will be ready for Wigan."
Despite Ivanovic's card, Cech admits that it was the right decision to dismiss his Chelsea team-mate.
"I saw Iva going in for the ball but his leg was over the ball, so it was a bit high and if he caught him, then it's a red card, that's what the referees have told us in meetings we have had," Cech said.
"There was no intention to hurt the player, but the tackle happened and so it was probably a red card."
