Chelsea's Boss Enzo Maresca Calls Pre-Match Period as The 'Toughest Two Days' with the Club

Chelsea tactician Enzo Maresca remarked that the preparation to the weekend's triumph against Everton constituted "the toughest 48 hours" of his tenure at Stamford Bridge.

The Italian delivered a rather mysterious statement in his post-match interview even after securing a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge courtesy of goals from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.

Those three precious points sent Chelsea once again into the Premier League's top four, perhaps lightening the atmosphere after a defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League that had extended the side's winless run to four matches.

But, when asked about Gusto's contribution and overall display, Maresca unexpectedly divulged his frustration over the preceding 48-hour period within the organization.

"How the lads want to learn has been excellent and this is the explanation why I applaud them - because with numerous challenges, they are performing admirably after a difficult week," he stated.

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

When pushed further on his meaning, the former Leicester City manager added: "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 within at Chelsea, he answered: "In general. In general," before specifying when asked if it was directed towards supporters or the press: "I love the fans and we are extremely happy with the fans."

Fitness & Suspension Woes

Maresca also drew attention to Chelsea's persistent injury and disciplinary problems, noting they had been without star attacker Cole Palmer for much of the campaign, in addition to being deprived of linchpin Moises Caicedo to a three-match ban and forward Liam Delap to two significant injuries.

"I truly praise 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, nearly every one of them minus Liam Delap," he said.

"And this squad, regardless of who is playing, they are performing brilliantly. Today was five games in 12 days so for sure when you see Cole Palmer playing, we said many times that he's our top player but we play almost all season without our top player.

"We play 5 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 want people externally to recognize because the work from the players is remarkable."

Chelsea's triumph over Everton strengthened their position in fourth in the Premier League table, with a Carabao Cup last-eight clash at Cardiff and a league trip to Newcastle scheduled in the coming days.

Uncertainty Over Maresca's Remark

It was ambiguous who or what prompted Maresca to describe the previous 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 his native Italy, held a training session at the training ground, attended a pre-game news conference where he seemed relaxed, and engineered a victory over an in-form Everton team.

It was not obvious whether any specific media reports had irked him, if social media comments were a factor, or if it was something deeper from inside the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca only sought to rule out that it was an matter related to the club's fans, a section of which have not yet fully embrace him since his appointment from Leicester in July 2024.