Chelsea's Manager Enzo Maresca Labels Pre-Match Time as His 'Worst 48 Hours' at the Blues

Chelsea tactician Enzo Maresca remarked that the preparation to the weekend's win against Everton constituted "the toughest 48 hours" he has experienced with the London club.

The 44-year-old made a somewhat cryptic comment in his after-game press conference even after earning a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge courtesy of strikes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.

Those points propelled Chelsea once again into the English top flight's top four, perhaps improving the mood after a loss to Atalanta in the Champions League that had extended the team's winless run to four matches.

But, when asked about Gusto's assist and overall display, Maresca unexpectedly disclosed his annoyance over the previous two days at the organization.

"How the players are eager to develop has been superb and this is the explanation why I praise them - because with a host of challenges, they are excelling after a difficult week," he commented.

"From the moment I arrived at the club, the last 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: "Worst 48 hours since I joined the club because people failed to back me and the team."

When asked if he meant people internally at Chelsea, he responded: "Broadly speaking. Overall," before clarifying when queried if it was aimed at supporters or the media: "I love the fans and we are extremely pleased with the fans."

Fitness & Disciplinary Woes

Maresca also pointed to Chelsea's persistent fitness and disciplinary issues, noting they had been without key forward 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 played 16 Premier League games, five of them without Moises Caicedo, eleven of them without Cole Palmer, nearly every one of them without Liam Delap," he explained.

"And this squad, regardless of who is playing, they are performing fantastic. Today was five games in 12 days so for sure when you see Cole Palmer there, we said many times that he's our top player but we play almost all season minus our best player.

"We play five 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 like people outside to acknowledge because the work from the players is fantastic."

Chelsea's triumph over Everton consolidated their position in fourth in the Premier League table, with a Carabao Cup last-eight clash at Cardiff and a league journey to Newcastle scheduled next week.

Speculation Over Maresca's Comments

It was ambiguous who or what prompted Maresca to describe the past 48 hours as the most difficult of his time as Chelsea manager.

In that period, the Italian had traveled back with his backroom team and players from his native Italy, held a session at Cobham, faced 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 specific media reports had irked him, if online discourse were a factor, or if it was something deeper from within the club at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca only sought to deny that it was an matter related to the club's fans, some of whom have not yet fully embrace him since his arrival from Leicester in July 2024.