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

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

The 44-year-old made a puzzling message in his post-match press conference despite securing a 2-0 win at home thanks to finishes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.

Those points lifted Chelsea back into the Premier League's top four, perhaps lightening the mood following a defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League that had extended the side's winless run to four outings.

However, when questioned about the full-back's contribution and overall performance, Maresca surprisingly divulged his frustration over the preceding two days at the organization.

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

"From the moment I arrived at the club, the previous 48 hours have been the most difficult because many people didn't support 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 didn't support me and the team."

When asked if he meant people within at Chelsea, he answered: "Broadly speaking. In general," before specifying when asked if it was directed towards fans or the media: "I love the fans and we are very content with the fans."

Fitness & Disciplinary Crisis

Maresca also drew attention to Chelsea's persistent injury and suspension problems, remarking they had been missing key forward Cole Palmer for much of the season, as well as being deprived of linchpin Moises Caicedo to a three-match ban and striker Liam Delap to two serious injuries.

"I really praise the players and the squad because we played 16 Premier League games, five of them minus Moises Caicedo, 11 of them without Cole Palmer, almost all of them without Liam Delap," he said.

"And this squad, regardless of who is on the pitch, they are doing fantastic. Today was 5 games in 12 days so undoubtedly when you see Cole Palmer available, we said many times that he's our finest 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 pleased for the players and it's something that I would want people externally to appreciate because the effort from the players is remarkable."

Chelsea's success over Everton consolidated their standing in fourth in the Premier League standings, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final tie at Cardiff and a league trip to Newcastle to come next week.

Uncertainty Over Maresca's Comments

It was unclear what exactly caused Maresca to describe the previous 48 hours as the worst of his tenure as Chelsea head coach.

In that period, the coach had returned with his backroom team and players from his native Italy, conducted a training session at the training ground, attended a pre-match press briefing where he appeared at ease, and secured a win over an in-form Everton team.

It was hard to discern whether any particular press stories had irked him, if social media discourse were a factor, or if it was something deeper from inside the club at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca only sought to deny that it was an issue involving the club's supporters, a section of which have still have yet to fully warm to him since his appointment from Leicester during July 2024.