The Manager Enzo Maresca Describes Lead-Up Period as The 'Toughest Two Days' at the Blues
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca remarked that the run-up to the weekend's win against Everton represented "the toughest 48 hours" of his tenure with the London club.
The Italian offered a puzzling message in his post-match interview despite notching a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge courtesy of finishes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.
Those crucial points sent Chelsea once again into the Premier League's top four, perhaps improving the mood following a defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League that had stretched the team's drought without a win to four fixtures.
But, when asked about Gusto's assist and general performance, Maresca unexpectedly shared his annoyance over the preceding two days at the organization.
"How the players are eager to learn has been excellent and this is the reason why I praise them - because with a host of challenges, they are excelling after a difficult week," he commented.
"Since I joined the club, the past 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 added: "Most difficult 48 hours since I joined the club because people failed to back me and the team."
When questioned if he meant people internally at Chelsea, he answered: "Broadly speaking. Overall," before specifying when queried if it was directed towards supporters or the press: "I love the fans and we are very happy with the fans."
Fitness and Disciplinary Crisis
Maresca also drew attention to Chelsea's ongoing fitness and suspension problems, remarking they had been without star attacker Cole Palmer for much of the season, as well as losing key midfielder Moises Caicedo to a three-game ban and forward Liam Delap to two significant injuries.
"I truly applaud the players and the squad because we played 16 Premier League games, five of them minus Moises Caicedo, eleven of them minus Cole Palmer, nearly every one of them minus Liam Delap," he said.
"And this squad, no matter who is on the pitch, they are doing exceptionally. Today was 5 games in 12 days so undoubtedly when you see Cole Palmer playing, we 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 minus Moises Caicedo. This is the explanation why I'm so delighted for the players and it's something that I would want people outside to recognize because the commitment from the players is outstanding."
Chelsea's triumph over Everton strengthened their standing in fourth in the Premier League standings, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final tie at Cardiff and a league journey to Newcastle to come next week.
Uncertainty Regarding Maresca's Remark
It was unclear what exactly caused Maresca to label the past 48 hours as the worst of his spell as Chelsea manager.
In that window, the coach had returned with his backroom team and players from his native Italy, conducted a session at Cobham, faced a pre-match press briefing where he appeared at ease, and engineered a victory over an in-form Everton side.
It was unclear whether any particular media reports had irked him, if online comments played a role, or if it was something deeper from within the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca only sought to deny that it was an matter involving the club's fans, some of whom have not yet fully warm to him since his appointment from Leicester in July 2024.
