The Manager Maresca Calls Lead-Up Time as His 'Toughest 48 Hours' at the Blues
Chelsea tactician Enzo Maresca stated that the preparation to the weekend's triumph against Everton was "the worst 48 hours" since his arrival at Stamford Bridge.
The Italian offered a rather mysterious statement in his post-match media briefing despite securing a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge through goals from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.
Those crucial points propelled Chelsea back into the English top flight's top four, potentially improving the mood following a loss to Atalanta in the Champions League that had extended the side's winless run to four outings.
But, when questioned about the full-back's contribution and general display, Maresca surprisingly divulged his annoyance over the preceding 48-hour period within the organization.
"How the lads want to improve has been fantastic and this is the explanation why I commend them - because with numerous problems, they are doing very well after a tricky week," he commented.
"Since I joined the club, the past 48 hours have been the worst because a lot of people didn't support us."
Pressed on the specifics, the former Leicester City manager continued: "Most difficult 48 hours since I came to the club because people didn't support me and the team."
When asked if he meant people within at Chelsea, he responded: "In general. Overall," before clarifying when asked if it was aimed at supporters or the press: "I adore the fans and we are very pleased with the fans."
Fitness and Disciplinary Woes
Maresca also drew attention to Chelsea's ongoing fitness and disciplinary problems, noting they had been missing star attacker Cole Palmer for a large portion of the campaign, as well as losing linchpin Moises Caicedo to a three-game ban and forward Liam Delap to two serious injuries.
"I truly applaud the players and the squad because we have played 16 Premier League games, five of them without Moises Caicedo, eleven of them without Cole Palmer, nearly every one of them minus Liam Delap," he explained.
"And this squad, regardless of who is playing, they are performing 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 the vast majority of the season minus our best player.
"We play five games in the Premier League without Moises Caicedo. This is the reason why I'm so happy for the players and it's something that I would like people outside to acknowledge because the work from the players is fantastic."
Chelsea's win over Everton cemented their standing in 4th place in the Premier League standings, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final clash at Cardiff and a league trip to Newcastle to come in the coming days.
Speculation Regarding Maresca's Remark
It was unclear what exactly prompted Maresca to describe the past 48 hours as the worst of his spell as Chelsea manager.
In that period, the coach had returned with his staff and players from Bergamo, held a session at Cobham, faced a pre-game press briefing where he seemed relaxed, and secured a win over an in-form Everton side.
It was unclear whether any particular press stories had irked him, if social media discourse played a role, or if it was something more significant from within the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca specifically took care to rule out that it was an matter involving the club's fans, a section of which have not yet fully warm to him since his arrival from Leicester during July 2024.