The Boss Maresca Describes Pre-Match Period as The 'Worst Two Days' with the Blues

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca remarked that the run-up to Saturday's triumph against Everton was "the most challenging 48 hours" since his arrival at Stamford Bridge.

The 44-year-old offered a somewhat cryptic comment in his after-game media briefing even after earning a 2-0 win at home through strikes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.

Those crucial points sent Chelsea once again into the Premier League's top four, potentially improving the atmosphere following a defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League that had stretched the side's winless run to consecutive matches.

However, when questioned about the full-back's assist and general display, Maresca unexpectedly divulged his displeasure over the preceding 48-hour period within the club.

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

"From the moment I arrived at the club, the past 48 hours have been the toughest because several people failed to back us."

Pressed on the specifics, the ex- Leicester City manager added: "Most difficult 48 hours since I joined the club because people failed to back me and the team."

When asked if he was referring to people within at Chelsea, he responded: "In general. Overall," before specifying when asked if it was aimed at supporters or the media: "I adore the fans and we are very pleased with the fans."

Injury and Suspension Crisis

Maresca also highlighted Chelsea's ongoing injury and suspension problems, noting they had been missing star attacker 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 significant injuries.

"I truly 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, no matter who is playing, they are doing fantastic. Today was 5 games in 12 days so certainly when you see Cole Palmer playing, we said many times that he's our finest player but we play the vast majority of the season minus our top player.

"We play five games in the Premier League minus Moises Caicedo. This is the reason why I'm so pleased for the players and it's something that I would like people outside to acknowledge because the effort from the players is fantastic."

Chelsea's success over Everton cemented their position in 4th place in the Premier League table, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final clash at Cardiff and a league journey to Newcastle scheduled in the coming days.

Uncertainty Over Maresca's Comments

It was not immediately clear who or what prompted Maresca to label the past 48 hours as the most difficult of his time as Chelsea manager.

In that timeframe, the coach had returned with his backroom team and players from Bergamo, held a training session at Cobham, faced a pre-game news conference where he seemed at ease, and secured a win over an in-form Everton team.

It was unclear whether any particular press stories had irked him, if social media discourse played a role, or if it was something more significant from inside the club at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca specifically took care to deny that it was an matter related to the club's fans, a section of which have still have yet to fully warm to him since his appointment from Leicester in July 2024.