The Boss Enzo Maresca Calls Pre-Match Time as His 'Most Difficult Two Days' with the Blues
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca remarked that the build-up to the weekend's triumph against Everton constituted "the most challenging 48 hours" of his tenure at Stamford Bridge.
The 44-year-old delivered a puzzling statement in his after-game media briefing despite securing a 2-0 win at home courtesy of goals from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.
Those crucial points sent Chelsea once again into the Premier League's top four, perhaps improving the atmosphere after a defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League that had extended the side's drought without a win to four outings.
However, when questioned about Gusto's contribution and general performance, Maresca surprisingly divulged his frustration over the previous two days at the organization.
"The way the lads are eager to improve has been superb and this is the explanation why I commend them - because with a host of problems, they are excelling after a complicated week," he said.
"From the moment I arrived at the club, the previous 48 hours have been the worst because many people failed to back us."
When pushed further on the specifics, the former Leicester City manager continued: "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 responded: "Broadly speaking. Overall," before clarifying when queried if it was directed towards fans or the press: "I love the fans and we are very happy with the fans."
Fitness and Disciplinary Woes
Maresca also highlighted Chelsea's persistent fitness and disciplinary issues, noting they had been without star attacker Cole Palmer for a large portion of the season, as well as being deprived of key midfielder Moises Caicedo to a three-match ban and striker Liam Delap to two serious injuries.
"I truly commend the players and the squad because we have played 16 Premier League games, 5 of them minus Moises Caicedo, 11 of them minus Cole Palmer, almost all of them minus Liam Delap," he said.
"And this squad, regardless of who is on the pitch, they are doing brilliantly. Today was five games in 12 days so for sure when you see Cole Palmer available, we have said many times that he's our best player but we play almost all season without our best player.
"We play five games in the Premier League without Moises Caicedo. This is the reason why I'm so pleased for the players and it's something that I would want people externally to appreciate because the effort from the players is remarkable."
Chelsea's win over Everton cemented their standing in fourth in the Premier League table, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final tie at Cardiff and a league journey to Newcastle to come in the coming days.
Speculation Over Maresca's Comments
It was not immediately clear who or what caused Maresca to label the previous 48 hours as the worst of his tenure as Chelsea manager.
In that period, the Italian had traveled back with his staff and players from Bergamo, conducted a training session at the training ground, faced a pre-game news conference where he seemed at ease, and secured a win over an in-form Everton side.
It was not obvious whether any particular press stories had unsettled him, if online comments played a role, or if it was something deeper from within the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca only sought to deny that it was an matter involving the club's supporters, a section of which have not yet fully embrace him since his arrival from Leicester during July last year.