The Manager Maresca Labels Pre-Match Period as His 'Most Difficult Two Days' at the Blues

Chelsea tactician Enzo Maresca stated that the run-up to Saturday's victory against Everton represented "the worst 48 hours" he has experienced with the London club.

The Italian delivered a somewhat cryptic message in his after-game press conference despite earning a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge thanks to finishes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.

Those points sent Chelsea back into the Premier League's top four, perhaps lightening the mood following a loss to Atalanta in the Champions League that had extended the team's drought without a win to consecutive matches.

But, when questioned about the full-back's assist and general display, Maresca surprisingly disclosed his frustration over the previous two days within the club.

"How the lads are eager to develop has been fantastic and this is the explanation why I commend them - because with so many issues, they are excelling after a tricky week," he stated.

"From the moment I arrived at the club, the past 48 hours have been the worst because several people failed to back us."

Pressed on his meaning, the former Leicester City manager added: "Most difficult 48 hours since I came to the club because people didn't support me and the team."

When asked if he meant people within at Chelsea, he responded: "Broadly speaking. In general," before clarifying when queried if it was aimed at supporters or the press: "I love the fans and we are very pleased with the fans."

Injury and Disciplinary Crisis

Maresca also drew attention to Chelsea's ongoing fitness and suspension issues, remarking they had been missing key forward Cole Palmer for a large portion of the campaign, as well as losing linchpin Moises Caicedo to a three-game ban and striker Liam Delap to a couple of serious injuries.

"I really commend the players and the squad because we have played 16 Premier League games, five of them without Moises Caicedo, eleven of them minus Cole Palmer, nearly every one of them minus Liam Delap," he explained.

"And this squad, regardless of who is playing, they are doing exceptionally. 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 top player.

"We play 5 games in the Premier League without Moises Caicedo. This is the reason 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 remarkable."

Chelsea's win over Everton cemented their position in 4th place in the Premier League standings, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final tie at Cardiff and a league journey to Newcastle scheduled next week.

Speculation Regarding Maresca's Remark

It was not immediately clear who or what prompted Maresca to label the previous 48 hours as the worst of his tenure as Chelsea manager.

In that timeframe, the Italian had traveled back with his backroom team and players from his native Italy, conducted a session at the training ground, faced a pre-match press briefing where he seemed relaxed, and engineered a victory over an high-flying Everton team.

It was hard to discern whether any particular media reports had irked him, if online comments were a factor, or if it was something more significant from within the club at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca specifically took care to rule out that it was an matter related to the club's supporters, some of whom have still have yet to fully warm to him since his appointment from Leicester in July last year.