Chelsea's Manager Maresca Describes Lead-Up Period as His 'Worst 48 Hours' at the Club
Chelsea tactician Enzo Maresca stated that the run-up to Saturday's triumph against Everton represented "the most challenging 48 hours" he has experienced at Stamford Bridge.
The Italian offered a rather mysterious statement in his after-game press conference despite notching a 2-0 win at home thanks to finishes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.
Those three precious points sent Chelsea once again into the English top flight's top four, perhaps improving the atmosphere following a loss to Atalanta in the Champions League that had stretched the team's winless run to four matches.
Yet, when questioned about Gusto's assist and overall display, Maresca unexpectedly shared his annoyance over the preceding 48-hour period within the club.
"The way the players are eager to improve has been excellent and this is the reason why I applaud them - because with a host of issues, they are excelling after a tricky week," he stated.
"From the moment I arrived at the club, the last 48 hours have been the most difficult because several people didn't support us."
When pushed further on his meaning, the ex- Leicester City manager continued: "Worst 48 hours since I came to the club because people failed to back me and the team."
When questioned if he meant people within at Chelsea, he answered: "In general. In general," before clarifying when queried if it was aimed at supporters or the press: "I love the fans and we are extremely pleased with the fans."
Fitness and Suspension Crisis
Maresca also highlighted Chelsea's ongoing injury and disciplinary issues, remarking they had been without key forward Cole Palmer for a large portion of the season, in addition to being deprived of linchpin Moises Caicedo to a three-match ban and forward Liam Delap to two serious injuries.
"I truly commend the players and the squad because we played 16 Premier League games, 5 of them without Moises Caicedo, eleven of them without Cole Palmer, almost all of them without Liam Delap," he said.
"And this squad, no matter who is playing, they are performing fantastic. Today was five games in 12 days so for sure when you see Cole Palmer there, we have 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 without Moises Caicedo. This is the reason why I'm so pleased for the players and it's something that I would like people outside to appreciate because the effort from the players is fantastic."
Chelsea's success over Everton strengthened their position in fourth in the Premier League standings, with a Carabao Cup last-eight clash at Cardiff and a league journey to Newcastle to come in the coming days.
Speculation Regarding Maresca's Remark
It was not immediately clear who or what caused Maresca to label the previous 48 hours as the worst of his tenure as Chelsea head coach.
In that period, the coach had returned with his backroom team and players from Bergamo, conducted a session at Cobham, attended a pre-match press briefing where he seemed relaxed, and secured a victory over an high-flying Everton team.
It was not obvious whether any particular press stories had irked him, if social media comments played a role, or if it was something more significant from inside the club at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca only sought to deny that it was an issue involving the club's fans, a section of which have still have yet to fully warm to him since his appointment from Leicester during July last year.
