The Manager Maresca Describes Pre-Match Period as The 'Worst Two Days' with the Club
Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca stated that the build-up to the weekend's win against Everton represented "the most challenging 48 hours" he has experienced with the London club.
The 44-year-old made a somewhat cryptic message in his after-game press conference despite notching a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge thanks to goals from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.
Those crucial points sent Chelsea back into the Premier League's top four, perhaps improving the atmosphere following a loss to Atalanta in the Champions League that had extended the team's winless run to consecutive matches.
But, when questioned about the full-back's assist and overall display, Maresca unexpectedly disclosed his frustration over the preceding two days within the club.
"The way the squad are eager to learn has been superb and this is the reason why I commend them - because with numerous challenges, they are doing very well after a difficult week," he said.
"Since I joined the club, the past 48 hours have been the toughest because a lot of people failed to back us."
When pushed further on the specifics, the former Leicester City boss elaborated: "Worst 48 hours since I came to the club because people didn't support me and the team."
When questioned if he meant people within at Chelsea, he answered: "In general. In general," before specifying when queried if it was directed towards fans or the media: "I adore the fans and we are very content with the fans."
Injury and Suspension Crisis
Maresca also pointed to Chelsea's persistent injury and disciplinary problems, remarking they had been missing star attacker Cole Palmer for much of the season, in addition to losing linchpin Moises Caicedo to a three-match ban and forward Liam Delap to a couple of significant injuries.
"I really praise 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, nearly every one of them without Liam Delap," he said.
"And this squad, no matter who is on the pitch, they are doing fantastic. Today was five games in 12 days so certainly 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 five games in the Premier League minus Moises Caicedo. This is the reason why I'm so pleased for the players and it's something that I would want people externally to acknowledge because the commitment from the players is remarkable."
Chelsea's success over Everton consolidated their standing in fourth in the Premier League table, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final tie at Cardiff and a league trip to Newcastle scheduled in the coming days.
Uncertainty Over Maresca's Remark
It was unclear who or what caused Maresca to label the past 48 hours as the worst of his tenure as Chelsea head coach.
In that window, the coach had returned with his staff and players from his native Italy, held a session at the training ground, faced a pre-match press briefing where he seemed relaxed, and secured a win over an in-form Everton team.
It was not obvious whether any particular media reports had unsettled him, if social media comments were a factor, or if it was something more significant from within the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca specifically took care to rule out that it was an matter related to the club's supporters, a section of which have still have yet to fully embrace him since his appointment from Leicester during July last year.
