The Manager Maresca Labels Pre-Match Period as His 'Worst Two Days' with the Blues

Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca stated that the run-up to the weekend's victory against Everton was "the toughest 48 hours" he has experienced with the London club.

The Italian offered a puzzling statement in his post-match interview even after notching a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge courtesy of finishes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.

Those points sent Chelsea back into the English top flight's top four, perhaps improving the mood following a loss to Atalanta in the Champions League that had extended the team's drought without a win to consecutive matches.

However, when questioned about the full-back's assist and general performance, Maresca surprisingly shared his frustration over the previous two days within the club.

"The way the players are eager to develop has been excellent and this is the explanation why I praise them - because with a host of issues, they are performing admirably after a complicated week," he commented.

"From the moment I arrived at the club, the previous 48 hours have been the worst because a lot of people withheld support from us."

Pressed on his meaning, the former Leicester City manager continued: "Worst 48 hours since I joined the club because people failed to back me and the team."

When questioned if he meant people internally at Chelsea, he answered: "Broadly speaking. Overall," before specifying when queried if it was directed towards supporters or the press: "I love the fans and we are extremely pleased with the fans."

Fitness & Suspension Woes

Maresca also highlighted Chelsea's persistent injury and disciplinary issues, remarking they had been missing star attacker Cole Palmer for a large portion of the season, in addition to being deprived of linchpin Moises Caicedo to a three-game ban and forward Liam Delap to a couple of significant injuries.

"I really praise the players and the squad because we have played 16 Premier League games, five of them minus Moises Caicedo, 11 of them minus Cole Palmer, nearly every one of them without Liam Delap," he explained.

"And this squad, no matter who is playing, they are performing exceptionally. Today was five games in 12 days so undoubtedly when you see Cole Palmer available, we said many times that he's our best player but we play the vast majority of the season without our best player.

"We play 5 games in the Premier League minus 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 work from the players is fantastic."

Chelsea's success over Everton consolidated their standing in 4th place in the Premier League table, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final tie at Cardiff and a league journey to Newcastle to come next week.

Speculation Over Maresca's Remark

It was unclear who or what caused Maresca to label the previous 48 hours as the worst of his spell as Chelsea head coach.

In that window, the coach had traveled back with his backroom team and players from Bergamo, conducted a training session at Cobham, attended a pre-game news conference where he seemed at ease, and secured a victory over an high-flying Everton side.

It was unclear whether any specific media reports had irked him, if online comments played a role, or if it was something deeper from inside the club at Stamford Bridge.

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