The Boss Maresca Labels Pre-Match Time as The 'Most Difficult 48 Hours' at the Club
Chelsea tactician Enzo Maresca revealed that the build-up to Saturday's win against Everton was "the toughest 48 hours" he has experienced with the London club.
The Italian offered a puzzling statement in his post-match press conference despite earning a 2-0 win at home courtesy of goals from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.
Those crucial points propelled Chelsea back into the Premier League's top four, perhaps lightening the atmosphere after a loss to Atalanta in the Champions League that had stretched the team's winless run to four matches.
Yet, when asked about the full-back's assist and general display, Maresca surprisingly shared his displeasure over the previous 48-hour period at the club.
"The way the players want to develop has been excellent and this is the reason why I praise them - because with numerous issues, they are performing admirably after a complicated week," he stated.
"Since I joined the club, the previous 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 continued: "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 responded: "In general. In general," before specifying when asked if it was aimed at fans or the media: "I love the fans and we are very content with the fans."
Fitness and Suspension Crisis
Maresca also drew attention to Chelsea's ongoing injury and disciplinary issues, remarking they had been without key forward Cole Palmer for a large portion of the season, as well as losing linchpin Moises Caicedo to a three-game ban and forward Liam Delap to a couple of significant injuries.
"I really applaud the players and the squad because we played 16 Premier League games, five of them without Moises Caicedo, 11 of them without Cole Palmer, almost all of them without Liam Delap," he said.
"And this squad, no matter who is on the pitch, they are doing exceptionally. Today was five games in 12 days so undoubtedly when you see Cole Palmer playing, we have said many times that he's our finest player but we play the vast majority of the season without our best 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 recognize because the work from the players is fantastic."
Chelsea's success over Everton cemented their standing in fourth in the Premier League table, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final clash at Cardiff and a league trip to Newcastle to come next week.
Uncertainty Regarding Maresca's Comments
It was not immediately clear what exactly caused Maresca to describe the previous 48 hours as the most difficult of his spell as Chelsea head coach.
In that period, the coach had returned with his staff and players from his native Italy, conducted a training session at the training ground, attended a pre-match news conference where he appeared relaxed, and secured a win over an in-form Everton team.
It was not obvious whether any specific press stories had irked him, if online comments played a role, or if it was something deeper from inside the club at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca specifically took care to deny that it was an issue related to the club's supporters, some of whom have not yet fully warm to him since his arrival from Leicester during July 2024.