Chelsea's Boss Enzo Maresca Describes Pre-Match Time as The 'Worst Two Days' with the Club

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

The 44-year-old delivered a rather mysterious message in his post-match media briefing despite securing a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge thanks to goals from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.

Those points lifted Chelsea back into the English top flight's top four, potentially improving the mood after a defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League that had stretched the side's winless run to four outings.

Yet, when asked about the full-back's contribution and general display, Maresca surprisingly disclosed his frustration over the preceding 48-hour period at the organization.

"The way the lads are eager to improve has been excellent and this is the explanation why I applaud them - because with so many issues, they are excelling after a complicated week," he said.

"From the moment I arrived at the club, the previous 48 hours have been the toughest because a lot of people failed to back us."

Pressed on what he meant, the former Leicester City boss elaborated: "Most difficult 48 hours since I joined the club because people failed to back me and the team."

When asked if he was referring to people within at Chelsea, he answered: "In general. In general," before specifying when asked if it was aimed at fans or the press: "I love the fans and we are very content with the fans."

Fitness and Suspension Crisis

Maresca also highlighted Chelsea's persistent fitness and suspension issues, remarking they had been missing star attacker Cole Palmer for a large portion of the campaign, as well as being deprived of key midfielder Moises Caicedo to a three-game ban and forward Liam Delap to two significant injuries.

"I really praise the players and the squad because we have played 16 Premier League games, 5 of them minus Moises Caicedo, 11 of them without Cole Palmer, nearly every one of them without Liam Delap," he explained.

"And this squad, regardless of who is playing, they are performing fantastic. Today was 5 games in 12 days so undoubtedly when you see Cole Palmer there, we have said many times that he's our finest player but we play almost all season minus our top player.

"We play 5 games in the Premier League minus Moises Caicedo. This is the reason why I'm so happy for the players and it's something that I would want people externally to acknowledge because the effort from the players is outstanding."

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

Uncertainty Over Maresca's Comments

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

In that timeframe, the Italian had traveled back with his staff and players from his native Italy, held a session at the training ground, faced a pre-match press briefing where he appeared relaxed, and engineered a win over an in-form Everton side.

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

Maresca only sought to deny that it was an issue involving the club's fans, some of whom have not yet fully embrace him since his appointment from Leicester in July last year.