Chelsea's Manager Maresca Describes Lead-Up Period as The 'Worst 48 Hours' with the Blues

Chelsea tactician Enzo Maresca stated that the preparation to Saturday's win against Everton constituted "the toughest 48 hours" since his arrival at Stamford Bridge.

The 44-year-old offered a puzzling statement in his post-match media briefing even after notching a 2-0 win at home thanks to finishes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.

Those crucial points sent Chelsea back into the Premier League's top four, potentially lightening the atmosphere after a defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League that had extended the side's drought without a win to four matches.

However, when questioned about the full-back's assist and overall display, Maresca unexpectedly divulged his frustration over the preceding 48-hour period within the club.

"The way the lads want to develop has been fantastic and this is the reason why I commend them - because with numerous problems, they are excelling after a complicated week," he said.

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

Pressed on the specifics, the ex- Leicester City manager added: "Most difficult 48 hours since I joined the club because people didn't support me and the team."

When questioned if he was referring to people within at Chelsea, he answered: "Broadly speaking. In general," before specifying when queried if it was directed towards fans or the press: "I adore the fans and we are extremely pleased with the fans."

Injury & Disciplinary Woes

Maresca also highlighted Chelsea's ongoing fitness and suspension problems, noting they had been without key forward Cole Palmer for much of the season, as well as being deprived of linchpin Moises Caicedo to a three-match ban and forward Liam Delap to two significant injuries.

"I really applaud the players and the squad because we have played 16 Premier League games, five of them without Moises Caicedo, eleven of them minus Cole Palmer, almost all of them minus Liam Delap," he explained.

"And this squad, regardless of who is playing, they are doing fantastic. Today was five games in 12 days so certainly when you see Cole Palmer there, we have said many times that he's our top player but we play the vast majority of the season without our top player.

"We play 5 games in the Premier League without Moises Caicedo. This is the explanation why I'm so pleased for the players and it's something that I would like people outside to acknowledge because the work from the players is remarkable."

Chelsea's triumph over Everton cemented their standing in fourth in the Premier League standings, with a Carabao Cup last-eight tie at Cardiff and a league trip to Newcastle scheduled next week.

Uncertainty Regarding Maresca's Comments

It was not immediately clear what exactly prompted Maresca to describe the past 48 hours as the worst of his tenure as Chelsea head coach.

In that window, the Italian had traveled back with his backroom team and players from Bergamo, conducted a training session at Cobham, faced a pre-match press briefing where he seemed at ease, and secured a victory over an high-flying Everton side.

It was not obvious whether any particular media reports 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 only sought to deny that it was an issue involving the club's supporters, a section of which have not yet fully warm to him since his arrival from Leicester during July last year.