🔗 Share this article The Manager Maresca Describes Lead-Up Time as His 'Most Difficult 48 Hours' at the Blues Enzo Maresca signed for Chelsea from Leicester in July of last year. Chelsea tactician Enzo Maresca revealed that the build-up to Saturday's victory against Everton was "the most challenging 48 hours" since his arrival at Stamford Bridge. The Italian offered a puzzling message in his after-game interview even after earning a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge thanks to strikes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto. Those three precious points lifted Chelsea once again into the Premier League's top four, potentially lightening the mood following a defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League that had extended the team's winless run to four matches. But, when asked about Gusto's contribution and general performance, Maresca surprisingly divulged his annoyance over the previous two days within the organization. "The way the lads want to improve has been superb and this is the explanation why I commend them - because with a host of challenges, they are excelling after a tricky week," he stated. "From the moment I arrived at the club, the past 48 hours have been the toughest because many people didn't support us." Pressed on his meaning, the ex- Leicester City boss added: "Worst 48 hours since I joined the club because people failed to back me and the team." When questioned if he was referring to people internally at Chelsea, he answered: "In general. In general," before specifying when queried if it was directed towards fans or the media: "I love the fans and we are very pleased with the fans." Injury & Suspension Crisis Maresca also drew attention to Chelsea's persistent fitness and suspension problems, noting they had been without key forward Cole Palmer for a large portion of the campaign, in addition to being deprived of key midfielder Moises Caicedo to a three-game ban and forward Liam Delap to a couple of serious injuries. "I really commend the players and the squad because we played 16 Premier League games, five of them without Moises Caicedo, eleven of them without Cole Palmer, nearly every one of them minus Liam Delap," he said. "And this squad, no matter who is on the pitch, they are doing brilliantly. Today was 5 games in 12 days so for sure when you see Cole Palmer there, we have said many times that he's our top player but we play almost all season without our top player. "We play five 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 outside to appreciate because the work from the players is outstanding." Chelsea's triumph over Everton strengthened their standing in 4th place in the Premier League table, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final tie at Cardiff and a league trip to Newcastle scheduled next week. Uncertainty Over Maresca's Remark It was unclear who or what caused Maresca to describe the previous 48 hours as the worst of his tenure as Chelsea manager. In that period, the Italian had returned with his backroom team and players from his native Italy, conducted a session at Cobham, faced a pre-game press briefing where he seemed relaxed, and engineered a win over an high-flying Everton side. It was hard to discern whether any particular media reports had irked him, if social media discourse played a role, or if it was something more significant from within the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge. Maresca specifically took care to rule out that it was an issue involving the club's supporters, some of whom have not yet fully embrace him since his appointment from Leicester in July last year.
Enzo Maresca signed for Chelsea from Leicester in July of last year. Chelsea tactician Enzo Maresca revealed that the build-up to Saturday's victory against Everton was "the most challenging 48 hours" since his arrival at Stamford Bridge. The Italian offered a puzzling message in his after-game interview even after earning a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge thanks to strikes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto. Those three precious points lifted Chelsea once again into the Premier League's top four, potentially lightening the mood following a defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League that had extended the team's winless run to four matches. But, when asked about Gusto's contribution and general performance, Maresca surprisingly divulged his annoyance over the previous two days within the organization. "The way the lads want to improve has been superb and this is the explanation why I commend them - because with a host of challenges, they are excelling after a tricky week," he stated. "From the moment I arrived at the club, the past 48 hours have been the toughest because many people didn't support us." Pressed on his meaning, the ex- Leicester City boss added: "Worst 48 hours since I joined the club because people failed to back me and the team." When questioned if he was referring to people internally at Chelsea, he answered: "In general. In general," before specifying when queried if it was directed towards fans or the media: "I love the fans and we are very pleased with the fans." Injury & Suspension Crisis Maresca also drew attention to Chelsea's persistent fitness and suspension problems, noting they had been without key forward Cole Palmer for a large portion of the campaign, in addition to being deprived of key midfielder Moises Caicedo to a three-game ban and forward Liam Delap to a couple of serious injuries. "I really commend the players and the squad because we played 16 Premier League games, five of them without Moises Caicedo, eleven of them without Cole Palmer, nearly every one of them minus Liam Delap," he said. "And this squad, no matter who is on the pitch, they are doing brilliantly. Today was 5 games in 12 days so for sure when you see Cole Palmer there, we have said many times that he's our top player but we play almost all season without our top player. "We play five 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 outside to appreciate because the work from the players is outstanding." Chelsea's triumph over Everton strengthened their standing in 4th place in the Premier League table, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final tie at Cardiff and a league trip to Newcastle scheduled next week. Uncertainty Over Maresca's Remark It was unclear who or what caused Maresca to describe the previous 48 hours as the worst of his tenure as Chelsea manager. In that period, the Italian had returned with his backroom team and players from his native Italy, conducted a session at Cobham, faced a pre-game press briefing where he seemed relaxed, and engineered a win over an high-flying Everton side. It was hard to discern whether any particular media reports had irked him, if social media discourse played a role, or if it was something more significant from within the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge. Maresca specifically took care to rule out that it was an issue involving the club's supporters, some of whom have not yet fully embrace him since his appointment from Leicester in July last year.