The Manager Maresca Labels Lead-Up Period as His 'Most Difficult Two Days' at the Club

Chelsea tactician Enzo Maresca stated that the build-up to the weekend's win against Everton represented "the most challenging 48 hours" he has experienced with the London club.

The Italian made a rather mysterious comment in his post-match media briefing despite notching a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge thanks to goals from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.

Those crucial points sent Chelsea once again into the Premier League's top four, perhaps lightening the mood following a defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League that had stretched the team's drought without a win to consecutive outings.

But, when questioned about the full-back's assist and overall display, Maresca surprisingly disclosed his displeasure over the previous two days at the organization.

"The way the players are eager to improve has been excellent and this is the reason why I applaud them - because with a host of challenges, they are performing admirably after a complicated week," he said.

"Since I joined the club, the previous 48 hours have been the toughest because several people failed to back us."

Pressed on his meaning, the ex- Leicester City manager elaborated: "Most difficult 48 hours since I came to the club because people didn't support me and the team."

When asked if he meant people within at Chelsea, he responded: "Broadly speaking. Overall," before specifying when queried if it was aimed at supporters or the media: "I love the fans and we are very happy with the fans."

Injury and Suspension Woes

Maresca also highlighted Chelsea's persistent injury and disciplinary issues, remarking they had been missing key forward Cole Palmer for a large portion of the season, in addition to being deprived of linchpin Moises Caicedo to a three-game ban and striker Liam Delap to a couple of serious injuries.

"I truly applaud the players and the squad because we 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 said.

"And this squad, regardless of who is playing, they are performing brilliantly. Today was 5 games in 12 days so certainly when you see Cole Palmer there, we have said many times that he's our finest player but we play the vast majority of the season minus our best player.

"We play 5 games in the Premier League without Moises Caicedo. This is the reason why I'm so happy for the players and it's something that I would want people outside to acknowledge because the work from the players is outstanding."

Chelsea's success over Everton cemented their position in fourth in the Premier League standings, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final tie at Cardiff and a league trip to Newcastle to come in the coming days.

Speculation Regarding Maresca's Comments

It was ambiguous who or what caused Maresca to describe the past 48 hours as the worst of his time 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 Cobham, faced a pre-game press briefing where he appeared at ease, and engineered a win over an in-form Everton side.

It was not obvious whether any specific media reports had irked him, if social media comments played a role, or if it was something more significant from inside the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca only sought 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 appointment from Leicester in July last year.