Chelsea's Manager Maresca Describes Lead-Up Time as His 'Most Difficult 48 Hours' at the Blues
Chelsea tactician Enzo Maresca revealed that the build-up to Saturday's victory against Everton was "the worst 48 hours" of his tenure with the London club.
The 44-year-old delivered a puzzling statement in his after-game interview despite earning a 2-0 win at home courtesy of finishes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.
Those crucial points lifted Chelsea back into the English top flight's top four, perhaps improving the mood after a loss to Atalanta in the Champions League that had stretched the team's drought without a win to consecutive matches.
Yet, when questioned about Gusto's contribution and general display, Maresca surprisingly divulged his displeasure over the preceding two days at the organization.
"The way the squad are eager to learn has been excellent and this is the explanation why I commend them - because with so many challenges, they are doing very well after a difficult week," he said.
"From the moment I arrived at the club, the last 48 hours have been the most difficult because many people didn't support us."
Pressed on the specifics, the former Leicester City manager continued: "Worst 48 hours since I joined the club because people failed to back me and the team."
When asked if he meant people within at Chelsea, he responded: "Broadly speaking. In general," before specifying when queried if it was aimed at fans or the press: "I adore the fans and we are extremely pleased with the fans."
Fitness & Suspension Crisis
Maresca also highlighted Chelsea's persistent injury and disciplinary issues, remarking they had been without key forward Cole Palmer for much 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 really praise the players and the squad because we have played 16 Premier League games, five of them minus Moises Caicedo, eleven of them without Cole Palmer, almost all of them minus Liam Delap," he explained.
"And this squad, no matter who is playing, they are doing brilliantly. Today was 5 games in 12 days so undoubtedly when you see Cole Palmer playing, we said many times that he's our finest player but we play the vast majority of the season minus our top player.
"We play five games in the Premier League minus Moises Caicedo. This is the reason why I'm so pleased for the players and it's something that I would like people externally to appreciate because the commitment from the players is outstanding."
Chelsea's success over Everton strengthened their standing in fourth in the Premier League standings, with a Carabao Cup last-eight clash at Cardiff and a league trip to Newcastle scheduled in the coming days.
Uncertainty Over Maresca's Remark
It was not immediately clear who or what caused Maresca to describe the previous 48 hours as the worst of his spell as Chelsea head coach.
In that timeframe, the Italian had returned with his staff and players from Bergamo, conducted a training session at Cobham, attended a pre-game press briefing where he appeared at ease, and secured a victory over an in-form Everton side.
It was unclear whether any particular press stories had irked him, if social media discourse were a factor, or if it was something deeper from inside the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca specifically took care to deny that it was an matter involving the club's fans, some of whom have not yet fully warm to him since his appointment from Leicester during July last year.