Chelsea's Manager Maresca Describes Lead-Up Time as The 'Most Difficult Two Days' at the Blues

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca remarked that the build-up to Saturday's victory against Everton constituted "the worst 48 hours" he has experienced with the London club.

The Italian offered a puzzling message in his after-game interview despite securing a 2-0 win at home thanks to finishes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.

Those points sent Chelsea back into the Premier League's top four, perhaps improving the mood following a loss to Atalanta in the Champions League that had stretched the side's drought without a win to four outings.

Yet, when questioned about the full-back's assist and general performance, Maresca surprisingly shared his frustration over the preceding 48-hour period at the club.

"How the lads are eager to learn has been excellent and this is the reason why I commend them - because with so many challenges, they are excelling after a difficult week," he commented.

"Since I joined the club, the last 48 hours have been the toughest because a lot of people withheld support from us."

When pushed further on his meaning, the former Leicester City manager elaborated: "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: "In general. In general," before specifying when asked if it was aimed at supporters or the press: "I love the fans and we are very content with the fans."

Injury and Disciplinary Woes

Maresca also pointed to Chelsea's ongoing injury and disciplinary problems, noting they had been missing key forward Cole Palmer for much of the season, in addition to losing 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 have played 16 Premier League games, 5 of them without Moises Caicedo, 11 of them without Cole Palmer, almost all of them without Liam Delap," he said.

"And this squad, no matter who is on the pitch, they are doing brilliantly. Today was five games in 12 days so certainly when you see Cole Palmer playing, we have said many times that he's our top player but we play almost all season without our top 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 outside to recognize because the effort from the players is fantastic."

Chelsea's triumph over Everton cemented their position in 4th place in the Premier League table, with a Carabao Cup last-eight clash at Cardiff and a league journey to Newcastle to come in the coming days.

Uncertainty Regarding Maresca's Comments

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

In that window, the coach had traveled back with his backroom team and players from his native Italy, conducted a session at Cobham, faced a pre-game press briefing where he appeared at ease, and engineered a victory over an high-flying Everton team.

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

Maresca specifically took care to deny that it was an matter involving the club's fans, some of whom have still have yet to fully warm to him since his arrival from Leicester in July last year.