The Manager Enzo Maresca Calls Pre-Match Period as The 'Toughest Two Days' at the Club
Chelsea tactician Enzo Maresca stated that the run-up to the weekend's win against Everton was "the worst 48 hours" since his arrival with the London club.
The Italian offered a somewhat cryptic comment in his post-match media briefing despite notching a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge through finishes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.
Those points propelled Chelsea once again into the English top flight's top four, potentially lightening the mood following a loss to Atalanta in the Champions League that had stretched the team's drought without a win to four matches.
But, when asked about Gusto's contribution and overall display, Maresca surprisingly shared his displeasure over the preceding 48-hour period at the club.
"How the players want to develop has been superb and this is the explanation why I applaud them - because with numerous problems, they are doing very well after a complicated week," he commented.
"Since I joined the club, the previous 48 hours have been the toughest because a lot of people didn't support us."
When pushed further on his meaning, the ex- Leicester City boss elaborated: "Most difficult 48 hours since I came to the club because people didn't support me and the team."
When questioned if he was referring to people internally at Chelsea, he answered: "Broadly speaking. Overall," before clarifying when queried if it was directed towards supporters or the media: "I adore the fans and we are very content with the fans."
Fitness and Suspension Crisis
Maresca also highlighted Chelsea's persistent fitness and disciplinary problems, noting they had been without star attacker Cole Palmer for a large portion of the campaign, as well as being deprived of 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 have played 16 Premier League games, five of them minus Moises Caicedo, 11 of them minus Cole Palmer, almost all of them without Liam Delap," he explained.
"And this squad, regardless of who is on the pitch, they are performing exceptionally. Today was five games in 12 days so undoubtedly when you see Cole Palmer there, we said many times that he's our best player but we play almost all season without our best player.
"We play 5 games in the Premier League minus Moises Caicedo. This is the explanation why I'm so pleased for the players and it's something that I would like people outside to appreciate because the work from the players is fantastic."
Chelsea's triumph over Everton strengthened their standing in fourth in the Premier League standings, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final clash at Cardiff and a league journey to Newcastle to come in the coming days.
Uncertainty Regarding Maresca's Comments
It was not immediately clear who or what caused Maresca to describe the past 48 hours as the worst of his spell as Chelsea head coach.
In that timeframe, the Italian had traveled back with his staff and players from Bergamo, held a training session at the training ground, attended a pre-match news conference where he appeared at ease, and engineered a win over an in-form Everton team.
It was unclear whether any particular media reports had irked him, if social media comments played a role, or if it was something more significant from within the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca only sought to rule out that it was an issue involving the club's supporters, a section of which have not yet fully embrace him since his arrival from Leicester during July last year.
