The Boss Enzo Maresca Calls Pre-Match Period as His 'Worst Two Days' at the Club

Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca stated that the run-up to Saturday's victory against Everton represented "the worst 48 hours" he has experienced with the London club.

The 44-year-old offered a rather mysterious statement in his after-game media briefing even after securing a 2-0 win at home courtesy of strikes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.

Those points sent Chelsea back into the English top flight's top four, perhaps lightening the atmosphere after a loss to Atalanta in the Champions League that had extended the team's drought without a win to consecutive outings.

However, when asked about Gusto's assist and general display, Maresca unexpectedly disclosed his annoyance over the previous two days within the organization.

"How the players are eager to improve has been fantastic and this is the explanation why I applaud them - because with numerous problems, they are excelling after a complicated week," he commented.

"Since I joined the club, the previous 48 hours have been the worst because several people withheld support from us."

Pressed on what he meant, the ex- Leicester City boss added: "Most difficult 48 hours since I came to the club because people didn't support me and the team."

When questioned if he was referring to people internally at Chelsea, he answered: "Broadly speaking. In general," before specifying when asked if it was aimed at fans or the media: "I love the fans and we are very pleased with the fans."

Fitness & Disciplinary Crisis

Maresca also drew attention to Chelsea's persistent injury and suspension problems, noting they had been without key forward Cole Palmer for a large portion of the campaign, in addition to being deprived of key midfielder Moises Caicedo to a three-game ban and striker Liam Delap to a couple of significant injuries.

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

"And this squad, no matter who is on the pitch, they are performing exceptionally. Today was 5 games in 12 days so for sure when you see Cole Palmer there, we have said many times that he's our best player but we play the vast majority of the season minus our best player.

"We play 5 games in the Premier League minus Moises Caicedo. This is the reason why I'm so delighted for the players and it's something that I would like people outside to appreciate because the work from the players is remarkable."

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

Uncertainty Over Maresca's Comments

It was unclear who or what prompted Maresca to label the past 48 hours as the most difficult of his time as Chelsea head coach.

In that timeframe, the coach had traveled back with his backroom team and players from Bergamo, conducted a training session at the training ground, faced a pre-game press briefing where he seemed at ease, and secured a win over an in-form Everton team.

It was unclear whether any specific media reports had irked him, if social media discourse were a factor, or if it was something more significant from within the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca only sought to deny that it was an matter related to 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.