The Boss Enzo Maresca Describes Lead-Up Period as The 'Worst Two Days' with the Club
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca stated that the run-up to the weekend's win against Everton constituted "the most challenging 48 hours" since his arrival at Stamford Bridge.
The Italian offered a rather mysterious statement in his after-game press conference even after earning a 2-0 win at home through strikes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.
Those crucial points sent Chelsea back into the Premier League's top four, perhaps lightening the mood after a loss to Atalanta in the Champions League that had extended the team's winless run to consecutive outings.
However, when questioned about Gusto's assist and overall display, Maresca unexpectedly divulged his frustration over the previous 48-hour period within the club.
"How the lads want to learn has been fantastic and this is the reason why I commend them - because with so many challenges, they are performing admirably after a tricky week," he commented.
"From the moment I arrived at the club, the past 48 hours have been the worst because several people didn't support us."
When pushed further on the specifics, the former Leicester City boss elaborated: "Worst 48 hours since I joined the club because people didn't support me and the team."
When asked if he was referring to people within at Chelsea, he responded: "Broadly speaking. Overall," before specifying when queried if it was directed towards fans or the press: "I love the fans and we are very pleased with the fans."
Fitness and Disciplinary Woes
Maresca also drew attention to Chelsea's ongoing fitness and disciplinary problems, noting they had been missing key forward 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 a couple of significant injuries.
"I truly praise the players and the squad because we played 16 Premier League games, 5 of them minus Moises Caicedo, eleven of them minus Cole Palmer, almost all of them without Liam Delap," he explained.
"And this squad, no matter who is on the pitch, they are doing exceptionally. Today was 5 games in 12 days so for sure when you see Cole Palmer playing, we said many times that he's our top player but we play almost all season minus our top player.
"We play 5 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 like people externally to acknowledge because the work from the players is remarkable."
Chelsea's success over Everton strengthened their position in fourth in the Premier League table, with a Carabao Cup last-eight tie at Cardiff and a league trip to Newcastle scheduled next week.
Uncertainty Over Maresca's Remark
It was ambiguous what exactly prompted Maresca to describe the previous 48 hours as the most difficult of his spell as Chelsea manager.
In that window, the Italian had returned with his backroom team and players from his native Italy, conducted a training session at Cobham, faced a pre-game press briefing where he seemed relaxed, and engineered a victory over an in-form Everton side.
It was hard to discern whether any particular press stories had irked him, if social media comments were a factor, or if it was something more significant from inside the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca only sought to deny that it was an issue involving the club's supporters, a section of which have not yet fully embrace him since his appointment from Leicester in July 2024.
