Chelsea's Manager Enzo Maresca Labels Pre-Match Period as The 'Most Difficult Two Days' with the Blues

Chelsea tactician Enzo Maresca revealed that the build-up to the weekend's triumph against Everton represented "the worst 48 hours" he has experienced with the London club.

The 44-year-old made a rather mysterious statement in his after-game media briefing despite earning a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge thanks to finishes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.

Those three precious points propelled Chelsea once again into the Premier League's top four, perhaps lightening the mood after a defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League that had extended the side's drought without a win to consecutive fixtures.

However, when asked about the full-back's contribution and overall display, Maresca surprisingly disclosed his frustration over the preceding 48-hour period within the organization.

"The way the lads are eager to learn has been excellent and this is the reason why I applaud them - because with numerous problems, 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."

When pushed further on his meaning, the former Leicester City boss 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 internally at Chelsea, he replied: "In general. In general," before specifying when queried if it was aimed at fans or the press: "I adore the fans and we are extremely content with the fans."

Injury and Disciplinary Woes

Maresca also pointed to Chelsea's ongoing fitness and disciplinary problems, noting they had been without key forward Cole Palmer for much of the campaign, in addition to losing linchpin Moises Caicedo to a three-match ban and striker Liam Delap to a couple of significant injuries.

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

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

"We play five 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 want people outside to recognize because the work from the players is remarkable."

Chelsea's win over Everton strengthened their position in fourth in the Premier League standings, with a Carabao Cup last-eight tie at Cardiff and a league trip to Newcastle to come in the coming days.

Speculation Regarding Maresca's Remark

It was not immediately clear what exactly prompted Maresca to label the past 48 hours as the worst of his spell as Chelsea manager.

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

It was not obvious whether any specific press stories had irked him, if social media discourse played a role, or if it was something more significant from within the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca only sought to deny 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.