The Manager Enzo Maresca Calls Pre-Match Period as His 'Worst Two Days' with the Club

Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca revealed that the build-up to Saturday's victory against Everton constituted "the toughest 48 hours" since his arrival with the London club.

The 44-year-old made a rather mysterious statement in his post-match press conference despite securing a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge through finishes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.

Those points lifted Chelsea once again into the English top flight's top four, perhaps improving the mood following a loss to Atalanta in the Champions League that had extended the side's drought without a win to four outings.

However, when asked about Gusto's contribution and overall performance, Maresca unexpectedly divulged his displeasure over the previous 48-hour period at the organization.

"How the lads want to learn has been fantastic and this is the explanation why I praise them - because with so many problems, they are doing very well after a difficult week," he commented.

"From the moment I arrived at the club, the last 48 hours have been the most difficult because several people failed to back us."

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

When questioned if he was referring to people internally at Chelsea, he replied: "In general. Overall," before specifying when asked if it was aimed at supporters or the media: "I adore the fans and we are extremely 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 campaign, as well as being deprived of key midfielder Moises Caicedo to a three-game ban and forward Liam Delap to a couple of serious 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 without Cole Palmer, almost all of them minus Liam Delap," he explained.

"And this squad, no matter who is playing, they are performing brilliantly. Today was five games in 12 days so for sure when you see Cole Palmer there, we said many times that he's our best player but we play almost all season minus our top player.

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

Chelsea's triumph over Everton cemented their position in fourth in the Premier League standings, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final tie at Cardiff and a league trip to Newcastle scheduled next week.

Speculation Regarding Maresca's Remark

It was ambiguous who or what prompted Maresca to label the previous 48 hours as the most difficult of his spell as Chelsea manager.

In that period, the Italian had returned with his backroom team and players from Bergamo, conducted a session at the training ground, faced a pre-match news conference where he seemed at ease, and secured a victory over an high-flying Everton side.

It was unclear whether any particular press stories had irked him, if social media discourse played a role, or if it was something more significant from inside the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca specifically took care to deny that it was an issue related to the club's supporters, some of whom have still have yet to fully embrace him since his appointment from Leicester during July 2024.