Chelsea's Manager Enzo Maresca Describes Lead-Up Period as His 'Most Difficult 48 Hours' at the Blues

Chelsea tactician Enzo Maresca remarked that the preparation to the weekend's win against Everton constituted "the most challenging 48 hours" of his tenure with the London club.

The Italian made a somewhat cryptic message in his after-game media briefing despite notching a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge through goals from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.

Those crucial points propelled Chelsea back into the English top flight's top four, perhaps lightening the atmosphere following a loss to Atalanta in the Champions League that had extended the side's drought without a win to consecutive outings.

Yet, when asked about the full-back's contribution and general display, Maresca unexpectedly divulged his frustration over the preceding two days within the club.

"How the lads want to improve has been excellent and this is the explanation why I praise them - because with a host of problems, they are doing very well after a complicated week," he said.

"From the moment I arrived at the club, the past 48 hours have been the toughest because a lot of people didn't support us."

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

When questioned if he was referring to people within at Chelsea, he responded: "Broadly speaking. In general," before specifying when queried if it was directed towards supporters or the media: "I adore the fans and we are very pleased with the fans."

Injury and Suspension Woes

Maresca also highlighted Chelsea's persistent injury and disciplinary issues, remarking they had been without key forward Cole Palmer for much of the season, as well as being deprived of key midfielder Moises Caicedo to a three-match ban and striker Liam Delap to two significant injuries.

"I truly applaud the players and the squad because we have played 16 Premier League games, five of them without Moises Caicedo, eleven of them minus Cole Palmer, almost all of them minus Liam Delap," he said.

"And this squad, regardless of who is on the pitch, they are doing brilliantly. Today was 5 games in 12 days so certainly when you see Cole Palmer there, we have said many times that he's our finest player but we play the vast majority of the season without our best player.

"We play five games in the Premier League without Moises Caicedo. This is the explanation why I'm so delighted 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 win over Everton strengthened their standing 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.

Uncertainty Regarding Maresca's Remark

It was ambiguous who or what caused Maresca to describe the previous 48 hours as the worst of his spell as Chelsea manager.

In that period, the Italian had traveled back with his backroom team and players from his native Italy, held a session at the training ground, faced a pre-game press briefing where he seemed relaxed, and secured a win over an high-flying Everton team.

It was hard to discern whether any specific media reports had unsettled him, if social media discourse were a factor, or if it was something more significant from inside the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca specifically took care to deny that it was an matter related to the club's fans, a section of which have still have yet to fully warm to him since his appointment from Leicester in July 2024.