The Manager Maresca Describes Pre-Match Period as The 'Most Difficult 48 Hours' with the Blues

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca revealed that the run-up to the weekend's triumph against Everton was "the worst 48 hours" since his arrival with the London club.

The 44-year-old made a rather mysterious comment in his after-game media briefing despite notching a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge thanks to goals from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.

Those crucial points sent Chelsea back into the Premier League's top four, perhaps lightening the atmosphere following a loss to Atalanta in the Champions League that had stretched the team's winless run to consecutive fixtures.

However, when asked about Gusto's assist and general performance, Maresca surprisingly disclosed his frustration over the previous two days at the organization.

"How the players want to improve has been superb and this is the reason why I praise them - because with numerous challenges, they are doing very well after a tricky week," he commented.

"From the moment I arrived at the club, the past 48 hours have been the most difficult because several people failed to back us."

When pushed further on his meaning, the ex- Leicester City boss added: "Worst 48 hours since I came to the club because people failed to back me and the team."

When questioned if he meant people internally at Chelsea, he replied: "Broadly speaking. Overall," before specifying when queried if it was aimed at supporters or the press: "I love the fans and we are very happy with the fans."

Injury and Suspension Woes

Maresca also pointed to Chelsea's persistent injury and disciplinary issues, noting they had been without key forward Cole Palmer for a large portion of the campaign, in addition to losing key midfielder Moises Caicedo to a three-game ban and forward Liam Delap to a couple of serious injuries.

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

"And this squad, regardless of who is playing, they are performing brilliantly. Today was five games in 12 days so undoubtedly when you see Cole Palmer available, we have said many times that he's our finest player but we play the vast majority of the season without 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 like people outside to acknowledge because the commitment from the players is remarkable."

Chelsea's success over Everton cemented their position in fourth in the Premier League table, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final tie at Cardiff and a league journey to Newcastle scheduled in the coming days.

Uncertainty Over Maresca's Remark

It was unclear what exactly prompted Maresca to describe the past 48 hours as the most difficult of his tenure as Chelsea head coach.

In that window, the coach had returned with his staff and players from his native Italy, held a session at the training ground, faced a pre-match news conference where he appeared relaxed, and engineered a victory over an high-flying Everton side.

It was hard to discern whether any specific press stories had irked him, if social media comments played a role, or if it was something deeper from inside the club at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca only sought to deny that it was an issue involving the club's fans, a section of which have still have yet to fully warm to him since his appointment from Leicester during July last year.