Chelsea's Manager Maresca Describes Pre-Match Time as The 'Most Difficult Two Days' with the Club
Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca remarked that the build-up to the weekend's victory against Everton represented "the toughest 48 hours" of his tenure at Stamford Bridge.
The Italian delivered a puzzling message in his post-match media briefing despite securing a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge through 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 loss to Atalanta in the Champions League that had stretched the team's drought without a win to consecutive fixtures.
Yet, when questioned about Gusto's contribution and overall display, Maresca unexpectedly disclosed his frustration over the preceding 48-hour period at the club.
"How the players are eager to improve has been excellent and this is the reason why I commend them - because with numerous challenges, they are excelling after a tricky week," he said.
"From the moment I arrived at the club, the previous 48 hours have been the most difficult because a lot of people withheld support from us."
When pushed further on his meaning, the former Leicester City manager continued: "Most difficult 48 hours since I came to the club because people didn't support me and the team."
When asked if he was referring to people within at Chelsea, he replied: "Broadly speaking. In general," before clarifying when queried if it was aimed at supporters or the media: "I love the fans and we are extremely pleased with the fans."
Fitness and Suspension Woes
Maresca also drew attention to Chelsea's persistent injury and disciplinary problems, noting they had been missing key forward Cole Palmer for a large portion of the season, in addition to losing key midfielder Moises Caicedo to a three-match ban and striker Liam Delap to two serious injuries.
"I truly applaud the players and the squad because we have played 16 Premier League games, 5 of them without 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 doing fantastic. Today was 5 games in 12 days so for sure when you see Cole Palmer there, we said many times that he's our best player but we play almost all season minus our top player.
"We play five 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 like people externally to recognize because the effort from the players is fantastic."
Chelsea's triumph over Everton consolidated their standing in 4th place in the Premier League table, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final tie at Cardiff and a league journey to Newcastle scheduled next week.
Speculation Over Maresca's Comments
It was not immediately clear who or what caused Maresca to describe the past 48 hours as the most difficult of his spell as Chelsea manager.
In that timeframe, the Italian had traveled back with his backroom team and players from his native Italy, held a session at the training ground, faced a pre-match news conference where he appeared relaxed, and engineered a victory over an in-form Everton team.
It was unclear whether any particular media reports had unsettled him, if social media discourse played a role, or if it was something deeper from within the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca only sought to deny that it was an matter involving the club's supporters, some of whom have still have yet to fully embrace him since his appointment from Leicester during July last year.