The Boss Maresca Calls Pre-Match Time as His 'Worst Two Days' with the Club

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca revealed that the run-up to the weekend's win against Everton constituted "the toughest 48 hours" he has experienced with the London club.

The 44-year-old delivered a puzzling statement in his after-game media briefing even after earning a 2-0 win at home thanks to goals from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.

Those points sent Chelsea once again into the Premier League's top four, perhaps lightening the atmosphere following a defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League that had stretched the side's drought without a win to four matches.

But, when questioned about the full-back's assist and general display, Maresca surprisingly shared his annoyance over the previous 48-hour period at the organization.

"The way the players are eager to develop has been superb and this is the explanation why I praise them - because with so many problems, they are doing very well after a difficult week," he commented.

"From the moment I arrived at the club, the past 48 hours have been the worst because many people withheld support from us."

Pressed on the specifics, the former Leicester City boss elaborated: "Worst 48 hours since I came to the club because people didn't support me and the team."

When questioned if he meant people internally at Chelsea, he replied: "In general. Overall," before specifying when queried if it was aimed at supporters or the media: "I adore the fans and we are extremely content with the fans."

Fitness & Disciplinary Woes

Maresca also drew attention to Chelsea's ongoing fitness and disciplinary issues, remarking they had been without star attacker Cole Palmer for a large portion of the season, as well as being deprived of linchpin Moises Caicedo to a three-match ban and striker Liam Delap to a couple of serious injuries.

"I truly commend 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, regardless of who is on the pitch, they are performing exceptionally. Today was five games in 12 days so undoubtedly when you see Cole Palmer available, we said many times that he's our best player but we play almost all season minus our best player.

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

Chelsea's triumph over Everton consolidated their standing in fourth in the Premier League standings, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final clash at Cardiff and a league journey to Newcastle scheduled in the coming days.

Uncertainty Regarding Maresca's Comments

It was not immediately clear what exactly caused Maresca to label the past 48 hours as the most difficult of his spell as Chelsea manager.

In that window, the coach had returned with his staff and players from Bergamo, conducted a training session at Cobham, attended a pre-match news conference where he seemed relaxed, and engineered a win over an high-flying Everton team.

It was not obvious whether any specific media reports had irked him, if social media discourse were a factor, or if it was something more significant from inside the club at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca specifically took care to deny that it was an matter involving the club's fans, a section of which have still have yet to fully embrace him since his arrival from Leicester in July last year.