Chelsea's Manager Maresca Describes Pre-Match Time as His 'Toughest Two Days' with the Blues

Chelsea tactician Enzo Maresca stated that the build-up to Saturday's win against Everton constituted "the most challenging 48 hours" of his tenure at Stamford Bridge.

The 44-year-old offered a rather mysterious statement in his after-game interview despite earning a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge through strikes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.

Those crucial points lifted Chelsea once again into the English top flight's top four, perhaps improving the mood after a defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League that had stretched the side's drought without a win to consecutive matches.

Yet, when asked about Gusto's contribution and overall performance, Maresca unexpectedly divulged his frustration over the previous 48-hour period within the organization.

"How the lads are eager to learn has been superb and this is the reason why I applaud them - because with a host of challenges, they are doing very well after a tricky week," he said.

"Since I joined the club, the previous 48 hours have been the worst because a lot of people failed to back us."

When pushed further on his meaning, 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: "Broadly speaking. Overall," before specifying when queried if it was directed towards supporters or the press: "I love the fans and we are very content with the fans."

Injury & Suspension Woes

Maresca also drew attention to Chelsea's ongoing fitness and suspension problems, remarking they had been missing key forward Cole Palmer for a large portion of the season, as well as being deprived of linchpin Moises Caicedo to a three-match ban and forward Liam Delap to two serious injuries.

"I really praise the players and the squad because we have played 16 Premier League games, 5 of them minus Moises Caicedo, eleven of them minus Cole Palmer, nearly every one of them minus Liam Delap," he explained.

"And this squad, no matter who is playing, they are doing brilliantly. Today was five games in 12 days so for sure when you see Cole Palmer there, we said many times that he's our top player but we play almost all season minus our top player.

"We play 5 games in the Premier League minus Moises Caicedo. This is the explanation why I'm so pleased for the players and it's something that I would want people externally to acknowledge because the effort from the players is outstanding."

Chelsea's win over Everton cemented their position in 4th place in the Premier League table, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final clash at Cardiff and a league journey to Newcastle to come in the coming days.

Speculation Regarding Maresca's Remark

It was not immediately clear who or what prompted Maresca to describe the past 48 hours as the most difficult of his tenure as Chelsea head coach.

In that period, the Italian had traveled back with his backroom team and players from his native Italy, conducted a training session at the training ground, faced a pre-game news conference where he seemed relaxed, and secured a win over an in-form Everton team.

It was unclear whether any particular media reports had unsettled him, if online comments played a role, or if it was something deeper from inside 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 appointment from Leicester during July last year.