🔗 Share this article The Manager Maresca Describes Pre-Match Time as The 'Toughest Two Days' with the Club Enzo Maresca joined Chelsea from Leicester during July of last year. Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca remarked that the build-up to the weekend's triumph against Everton was "the toughest 48 hours" he has experienced with the London club. The 44-year-old made a somewhat cryptic message in his post-match press conference despite notching a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge courtesy of finishes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto. Those three precious points lifted Chelsea once again into the English top flight's top four, perhaps improving the atmosphere following a defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League that had stretched the side's winless run to consecutive fixtures. But, when asked about the full-back's contribution and overall display, Maresca unexpectedly divulged his annoyance over the preceding 48-hour period at the club. "How the players are eager to improve has been excellent and this is the reason why I commend them - because with numerous challenges, they are performing admirably after a tricky week," he stated. "Since I joined the club, the past 48 hours have been the toughest because several people didn't support us." When pushed further on what he meant, the former Leicester City boss added: "Worst 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 responded: "In general. Overall," before specifying when queried if it was directed towards supporters or the media: "I adore the fans and we are extremely content with the fans." Fitness & Disciplinary Crisis Maresca also pointed to Chelsea's ongoing injury and suspension problems, noting they had been without key forward Cole Palmer for much of the season, as well as losing key midfielder Moises Caicedo to a three-match ban and forward Liam Delap to a couple of 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 playing, they are doing brilliantly. Today was 5 games in 12 days so undoubtedly when you see Cole Palmer available, we have said many times that he's our best player but we play the vast majority of the season minus our top player. "We play five games in the Premier League without Moises Caicedo. This is the explanation why I'm so delighted for the players and it's something that I would want people outside to recognize because the effort from the players is outstanding." Chelsea's win over Everton cemented their position in fourth in the Premier League standings, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final tie at Cardiff and a league journey to Newcastle scheduled next week. Speculation Regarding Maresca's Remark It was unclear who or what caused Maresca to label the previous 48 hours as the worst of his tenure as Chelsea manager. In that window, the Italian had traveled back with his staff and players from Bergamo, held a training session at Cobham, faced a pre-game news conference where he seemed at ease, and engineered a win over an high-flying Everton team. It was hard to discern whether any specific press stories had irked him, if online comments were a factor, or if it was something deeper from inside the club at Stamford Bridge. Maresca only sought to rule out that it was an issue involving the club's supporters, a section of which have still have yet to fully warm to him since his appointment from Leicester in July 2024.
Enzo Maresca joined Chelsea from Leicester during July of last year. Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca remarked that the build-up to the weekend's triumph against Everton was "the toughest 48 hours" he has experienced with the London club. The 44-year-old made a somewhat cryptic message in his post-match press conference despite notching a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge courtesy of finishes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto. Those three precious points lifted Chelsea once again into the English top flight's top four, perhaps improving the atmosphere following a defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League that had stretched the side's winless run to consecutive fixtures. But, when asked about the full-back's contribution and overall display, Maresca unexpectedly divulged his annoyance over the preceding 48-hour period at the club. "How the players are eager to improve has been excellent and this is the reason why I commend them - because with numerous challenges, they are performing admirably after a tricky week," he stated. "Since I joined the club, the past 48 hours have been the toughest because several people didn't support us." When pushed further on what he meant, the former Leicester City boss added: "Worst 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 responded: "In general. Overall," before specifying when queried if it was directed towards supporters or the media: "I adore the fans and we are extremely content with the fans." Fitness & Disciplinary Crisis Maresca also pointed to Chelsea's ongoing injury and suspension problems, noting they had been without key forward Cole Palmer for much of the season, as well as losing key midfielder Moises Caicedo to a three-match ban and forward Liam Delap to a couple of 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 playing, they are doing brilliantly. Today was 5 games in 12 days so undoubtedly when you see Cole Palmer available, we have said many times that he's our best player but we play the vast majority of the season minus our top player. "We play five games in the Premier League without Moises Caicedo. This is the explanation why I'm so delighted for the players and it's something that I would want people outside to recognize because the effort from the players is outstanding." Chelsea's win over Everton cemented their position in fourth in the Premier League standings, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final tie at Cardiff and a league journey to Newcastle scheduled next week. Speculation Regarding Maresca's Remark It was unclear who or what caused Maresca to label the previous 48 hours as the worst of his tenure as Chelsea manager. In that window, the Italian had traveled back with his staff and players from Bergamo, held a training session at Cobham, faced a pre-game news conference where he seemed at ease, and engineered a win over an high-flying Everton team. It was hard to discern whether any specific press stories had irked him, if online comments were a factor, or if it was something deeper from inside the club at Stamford Bridge. Maresca only sought to rule out that it was an issue involving the club's supporters, a section of which have still have yet to fully warm to him since his appointment from Leicester in July 2024.