Chelsea's Manager Maresca Calls Lead-Up Period as His 'Worst 48 Hours' at the Blues

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

The 44-year-old delivered a somewhat cryptic comment in his after-game press conference despite notching a 2-0 win at home courtesy of finishes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.

Those points sent Chelsea back into the English top flight's top four, perhaps improving the mood after a defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League that had extended the side's drought without a win to consecutive matches.

However, when asked about the full-back's assist and overall display, Maresca unexpectedly disclosed his displeasure over the preceding two days within the club.

"How the players want to develop has been superb and this is the explanation why I commend them - because with so many issues, they are excelling after a difficult week," he stated.

"From the moment I arrived at the club, the last 48 hours have been the worst because a lot of people withheld support from us."

Pressed on his meaning, the former Leicester City boss added: "Worst 48 hours since I came to the club because people failed to back me and the team."

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

Injury & Disciplinary Woes

Maresca also drew attention to Chelsea's ongoing injury and suspension problems, noting they had been without star attacker Cole Palmer for a large portion of the season, in addition to being deprived of linchpin Moises Caicedo to a three-game ban and striker Liam Delap to two significant injuries.

"I really commend the players and the squad because we played 16 Premier League games, 5 of them without Moises Caicedo, 11 of them minus Cole Palmer, almost all of them without Liam Delap," he said.

"And this squad, regardless of who is on the pitch, they are doing brilliantly. Today was 5 games in 12 days so for sure when you see Cole Palmer there, we have said many times that he's our top player but we play the vast majority of the season without our best player.

"We play 5 games in the Premier League without 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 win over Everton consolidated their position in 4th place in the Premier League table, with a Carabao Cup last-eight tie at Cardiff and a league journey to Newcastle scheduled next week.

Uncertainty Regarding Maresca's Remark

It was ambiguous what exactly prompted Maresca to describe the previous 48 hours as the most difficult of his time as Chelsea manager.

In that period, the coach had returned with his staff and players from Bergamo, conducted a session at the training ground, faced a pre-match press briefing where he appeared at ease, and engineered a victory over an high-flying Everton side.

It was not obvious whether any particular press stories had unsettled him, if online discourse 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 issue involving the club's supporters, a section of which have not yet fully embrace him since his arrival from Leicester in July last year.