The Manager Enzo Maresca Calls Pre-Match Period as The 'Toughest Two Days' with the Blues

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

The Italian delivered a puzzling comment in his post-match interview even after earning 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 atmosphere after a defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League that had stretched the team's winless run to four matches.

Yet, when questioned about Gusto's assist and general display, Maresca unexpectedly disclosed his annoyance over the preceding two days at the club.

"The way the squad want to learn has been superb and this is the reason why I applaud them - because with a host of problems, they are excelling after a difficult week," he commented.

"Since I joined the club, the previous 48 hours have been the most difficult because a lot of people withheld support from us."

When pushed further on his meaning, the ex- Leicester City boss added: "Most difficult 48 hours since I came to the club because people failed to back me and the team."

When asked if he was referring to people internally at Chelsea, he responded: "Broadly speaking. In general," before clarifying when queried if it was aimed at supporters or the media: "I love the fans and we are very content with the fans."

Fitness and Suspension Crisis

Maresca also highlighted Chelsea's ongoing fitness and disciplinary issues, noting they had been without star attacker Cole Palmer for a large portion of the campaign, as well as being deprived of linchpin Moises Caicedo to a three-game ban and forward Liam Delap to a couple of significant injuries.

"I really applaud the players and the squad because we have played 16 Premier League games, 5 of them minus Moises Caicedo, eleven of them minus Cole Palmer, almost all of them minus Liam Delap," he said.

"And this squad, no matter who is playing, they are doing brilliantly. Today was 5 games in 12 days so for sure when you see Cole Palmer there, we have said many times that he's our best player but we play the vast majority of the season minus our best player.

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

Chelsea's triumph over Everton consolidated their position in 4th place in the Premier League table, with a Carabao Cup last-eight tie at Cardiff and a league journey to Newcastle scheduled in the coming days.

Speculation Over Maresca's Comments

It was not immediately clear what exactly caused Maresca to describe the past 48 hours as the worst of his time as Chelsea head coach.

In that period, the Italian had traveled back with his backroom team and players from Bergamo, conducted a session at Cobham, faced a pre-match press briefing where he seemed relaxed, and engineered a win over an high-flying Everton side.

It was hard to discern whether any specific media reports had irked him, if online discourse played a role, or if it was something deeper from within the club at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca only sought to rule out that it was an matter related to the club's supporters, some of whom have not yet fully warm to him since his arrival from Leicester during July 2024.