The Manager Enzo Maresca Calls Pre-Match Time as His 'Worst Two Days' at the Club

Chelsea tactician Enzo Maresca revealed that the build-up to the weekend's victory against Everton constituted "the toughest 48 hours" he has experienced with the London club.

The Italian offered a somewhat cryptic message in his post-match press conference despite securing a 2-0 win at home courtesy of finishes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.

Those points propelled 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 extended the side's drought without a win to four fixtures.

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

"How the squad are eager to improve has been fantastic and this is the explanation why I praise them - because with so many problems, they are performing admirably after a complicated week," he said.

"Since I joined the club, the past 48 hours have been the worst because several people failed to back us."

Pressed on his meaning, the ex- Leicester City manager elaborated: "Worst 48 hours since I joined the club because people didn't support me and the team."

When asked if he meant people internally at Chelsea, he replied: "Broadly speaking. Overall," before specifying when asked if it was directed towards supporters or the media: "I love the fans and we are extremely happy with the fans."

Fitness & Disciplinary Woes

Maresca also highlighted Chelsea's persistent injury and disciplinary problems, noting they had been missing star attacker Cole Palmer for much of the campaign, as well as being deprived of linchpin Moises Caicedo to a three-game ban and forward Liam Delap to a couple of significant injuries.

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

"And this squad, regardless of who is playing, they are performing brilliantly. Today was 5 games in 12 days so certainly when you see Cole Palmer there, we said many times that he's our top player but we play almost all season without our best player.

"We play five games in the Premier League without Moises Caicedo. This is the explanation why I'm so happy for the players and it's something that I would like people outside to acknowledge because the commitment from the players is remarkable."

Chelsea's triumph over Everton strengthened their position in fourth in the Premier League table, with a Carabao Cup last-eight tie at Cardiff and a league journey to Newcastle scheduled next week.

Uncertainty Over Maresca's Remark

It was unclear who or what prompted Maresca to label the previous 48 hours as the most difficult of his tenure as Chelsea head coach.

In that window, the Italian had returned with his backroom team and players from his native Italy, held a training session at Cobham, attended a pre-match press briefing where he seemed at ease, and engineered a win over an in-form Everton team.

It was hard to discern whether any particular media reports had unsettled him, if social media discourse played a role, or if it was something deeper from inside the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca specifically took care to rule out that it was an issue involving the club's supporters, some of whom have not yet fully embrace him since his arrival from Leicester in July last year.