The Manager Enzo Maresca Describes Pre-Match Time as The 'Toughest 48 Hours' with the Club

Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca stated that the run-up to the weekend's triumph against Everton was "the toughest 48 hours" since his arrival at Stamford Bridge.

The Italian delivered a somewhat cryptic comment in his post-match media briefing even after notching a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge through strikes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.

Those crucial points lifted Chelsea back into the Premier League's top four, perhaps improving the mood after a loss to Atalanta in the Champions League that had extended the side's winless run to consecutive fixtures.

However, when asked about the full-back's assist and general display, Maresca surprisingly shared his displeasure over the preceding two days at the club.

"How the lads are eager to learn has been superb and this is the explanation why I applaud them - because with so many issues, they are doing very well after a tricky week," he stated.

"Since I joined the club, the last 48 hours have been the toughest because a lot of people failed to back us."

When pushed further on what he meant, the former Leicester City manager added: "Most difficult 48 hours since I came to the club because people failed to back me and the team."

When questioned if he meant people internally at Chelsea, he responded: "In general. In general," before specifying when queried if it was aimed at fans or the press: "I adore the fans and we are very content with the fans."

Fitness and Suspension Woes

Maresca also drew attention to Chelsea's ongoing fitness and disciplinary problems, remarking they had been without key forward Cole Palmer for a large portion of the season, in addition to losing key midfielder Moises Caicedo to a three-match ban and striker Liam Delap to a couple of significant injuries.

"I really commend the players and the squad because we played 16 Premier League games, five of them without Moises Caicedo, eleven of them minus Cole Palmer, nearly every one of them without Liam Delap," he said.

"And this squad, regardless of who is playing, they are doing exceptionally. Today was five games in 12 days so certainly when you see Cole Palmer there, we have said many times that he's our top player but we play almost all season minus our best player.

"We play five games in the Premier League minus Moises Caicedo. This is the explanation why I'm so pleased for the players and it's something that I would like people outside to appreciate because the work from the players is outstanding."

Chelsea's success over Everton consolidated their position in fourth in the Premier League table, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final clash at Cardiff and a league journey to Newcastle scheduled next week.

Uncertainty Over Maresca's Comments

It was not immediately clear what exactly caused Maresca to label the previous 48 hours as the most difficult of his time as Chelsea head coach.

In that window, the coach had returned with his backroom team and players from his native Italy, held a session at Cobham, faced a pre-match news conference where he appeared at ease, and engineered a victory over an in-form Everton team.

It was unclear whether any particular media reports had unsettled him, if online discourse were a factor, or if it was something deeper from inside the club at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca specifically took care to rule out that it was an issue related to the club's supporters, a section of which have still have yet to fully warm to him since his arrival from Leicester during July 2024.