Chelsea's Manager Maresca Describes Pre-Match Period as His 'Toughest 48 Hours' at the Club

Chelsea tactician Enzo Maresca revealed that the run-up to the weekend's triumph against Everton represented "the most challenging 48 hours" he has experienced at Stamford Bridge.

The Italian offered a somewhat cryptic message in his after-game press conference even after securing a 2-0 win at home thanks to finishes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.

Those three precious points sent Chelsea back into the English top flight's top four, potentially lightening the atmosphere after a loss to Atalanta in the Champions League that had stretched the side's winless run to four matches.

Yet, when questioned about Gusto's assist and overall performance, Maresca surprisingly disclosed his displeasure over the previous 48-hour period at the club.

"How the squad want to improve has been superb and this is the reason why I praise them - because with so many challenges, they are doing very well after a complicated week," he commented.

"Since I joined the club, the past 48 hours have been the most difficult because several people failed to back us."

When pushed further on his meaning, the ex- Leicester City boss continued: "Worst 48 hours since I came to the club because people failed to back me and the team."

When asked if he was referring to people internally at Chelsea, he answered: "Broadly speaking. In general," before clarifying when asked if it was directed towards fans or the press: "I love the fans and we are very content with the fans."

Fitness and Disciplinary Crisis

Maresca also highlighted Chelsea's persistent fitness and suspension problems, noting they had been missing star attacker Cole Palmer for much of the campaign, in addition to being deprived of linchpin Moises Caicedo to a three-game ban and striker Liam Delap to two significant injuries.

"I really applaud the players and the squad because we have played 16 Premier League games, 5 of them without Moises Caicedo, eleven of them minus Cole Palmer, almost all of them minus Liam Delap," he explained.

"And this squad, regardless of who is on the pitch, they are doing brilliantly. Today was 5 games in 12 days so certainly when you see Cole Palmer available, we have said many times that he's our best 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 explanation why I'm so happy for the players and it's something that I would want people outside to appreciate because the commitment from the players is remarkable."

Chelsea's success over Everton consolidated their position in fourth in the Premier League table, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final tie at Cardiff and a league trip to Newcastle to come in the coming days.

Speculation Over Maresca's Comments

It was not immediately clear who or what caused Maresca to label the previous 48 hours as the worst of his spell as Chelsea manager.

In that period, the Italian had traveled back with his staff and players from Bergamo, conducted a training session at Cobham, faced a pre-game press briefing where he seemed relaxed, and secured a victory over an high-flying Everton team.

It was unclear whether any particular media reports had unsettled him, if social media discourse were a factor, or if it was something deeper from inside the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca specifically took care to deny that it was an matter involving the club's supporters, some of whom have not yet fully warm to him since his appointment from Leicester during July 2024.