The Manager Enzo Maresca Calls Pre-Match Time as The 'Most Difficult Two Days' with the Blues

Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca revealed that the build-up to the weekend's victory against Everton represented "the most challenging 48 hours" since his arrival with the London club.

The 44-year-old delivered a somewhat cryptic message in his after-game interview despite earning a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge through strikes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.

Those crucial points sent Chelsea once again into the English top flight's top four, potentially improving the mood after a defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League that had extended the side's winless run to four outings.

However, when asked about the full-back's assist and overall display, Maresca unexpectedly divulged his annoyance over the previous 48-hour period at the organization.

"How the players want to improve has been excellent and this is the reason why I commend them - because with a host of problems, they are doing very well after a difficult week," he stated.

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

When pushed further on his meaning, the ex- Leicester City boss added: "Worst 48 hours since I came to the club because people didn't support me and the team."

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

Fitness & Disciplinary Crisis

Maresca also highlighted Chelsea's ongoing fitness and disciplinary problems, noting they had been missing star attacker Cole Palmer for a large portion of the campaign, in addition to being deprived of linchpin Moises Caicedo to a three-game ban and forward Liam Delap to two serious injuries.

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

"And this squad, regardless of who is playing, they are doing fantastic. Today was 5 games in 12 days so for sure when you see Cole Palmer playing, we have 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 happy for the players and it's something that I would like people externally to appreciate because the work from the players is outstanding."

Chelsea's win over Everton cemented 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 in the coming days.

Uncertainty Over Maresca's Comments

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

In that window, the Italian had traveled back with his backroom team and players from his native Italy, held a session at the training ground, attended a pre-match news conference where he appeared at ease, and engineered a win over an high-flying Everton side.

It was hard to discern whether any particular media reports had unsettled him, if online discourse played a role, or if it was something more significant from inside the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca specifically took care to rule out that it was an issue related to the club's supporters, some of whom have still have yet to fully warm to him since his arrival from Leicester in July 2024.