Chelsea's Manager Enzo Maresca Calls Lead-Up Time as The 'Most Difficult Two Days' at the Blues

Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca remarked that the build-up to the weekend's triumph against Everton was "the worst 48 hours" he has experienced at Stamford Bridge.

The Italian made a rather mysterious statement in his post-match interview despite notching a 2-0 win at home courtesy of goals from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.

Those crucial points sent Chelsea back into the English top flight's top four, potentially lightening the atmosphere following a loss to Atalanta in the Champions League that had stretched the side's winless run to consecutive matches.

However, when asked about Gusto's contribution and general performance, Maresca surprisingly disclosed his frustration over the preceding 48-hour period at the organization.

"How the squad are eager to develop has been fantastic and this is the explanation why I commend them - because with a host of problems, they are doing very well after a difficult week," he said.

"Since I joined the club, the past 48 hours have been the most difficult because a lot of people didn't support us."

When pushed further on the specifics, the former Leicester City boss elaborated: "Worst 48 hours since I joined the club because people failed to back me and the team."

When asked if he meant people within at Chelsea, he answered: "In general. In general," before clarifying when asked if it was directed towards fans or the press: "I adore the fans and we are extremely happy with the fans."

Injury and Suspension Woes

Maresca also pointed to Chelsea's ongoing fitness and suspension problems, remarking they had been missing star attacker Cole Palmer for a large portion of the campaign, as well as being deprived of key midfielder Moises Caicedo to a three-match ban and striker Liam Delap to a couple of significant injuries.

"I truly commend the players and the squad because we played 16 Premier League games, five of them minus Moises Caicedo, eleven of them without Cole Palmer, nearly every one of them minus Liam Delap," he explained.

"And this squad, regardless of who is on the pitch, they are doing fantastic. Today was five games in 12 days so for sure when you see Cole Palmer there, we have said many times that he's our finest player but we play almost all season minus our best 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 effort from the players is outstanding."

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

Uncertainty Over Maresca's Remark

It was unclear who or what caused Maresca to label the past 48 hours as the worst of his tenure as Chelsea manager.

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

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

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