🔗 Share this article The Manager Maresca Calls Lead-Up Time as The 'Toughest Two Days' with the Club Enzo Maresca signed for Chelsea from Leicester during July of last year. Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca revealed that the build-up to the weekend's triumph against Everton represented "the toughest 48 hours" of his tenure with the London club. The 44-year-old made a puzzling statement in his post-match interview even after notching a 2-0 win at home courtesy of strikes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto. Those points sent Chelsea back into the Premier League's top four, potentially lightening the atmosphere following a loss to Atalanta in the Champions League that had stretched the team's winless run to consecutive outings. But, when questioned about the full-back's contribution and overall performance, Maresca unexpectedly divulged his frustration over the preceding two days within the organization. "How the squad want to develop has been fantastic and this is the explanation why I commend them - because with so many problems, they are excelling after a complicated week," he said. "Since I joined the club, the previous 48 hours have been the worst because several people failed to back us." When pushed further on his meaning, the ex- Leicester City boss elaborated: "Worst 48 hours since I came to the club because people didn't support me and the team." When asked if he meant people internally at Chelsea, he responded: "In general. In general," before specifying when asked if it was aimed at fans or the press: "I adore the fans and we are extremely pleased with the fans." Injury & Disciplinary Crisis Maresca also pointed to Chelsea's ongoing injury and suspension problems, noting they had been without key forward Cole Palmer for much of the season, as well as losing key midfielder Moises Caicedo to a three-game ban and forward Liam Delap to two serious injuries. "I truly commend the players and the squad because we played 16 Premier League games, 5 of them without Moises Caicedo, 11 of them without Cole Palmer, almost all of them without Liam Delap," he said. "And this squad, no matter who is on the pitch, they are performing exceptionally. Today was 5 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 the vast majority of the season minus our top player. "We play five games in the Premier League without Moises Caicedo. This is the explanation why I'm so delighted for the players and it's something that I would like people outside to acknowledge because the work from the players is fantastic." Chelsea's win over Everton consolidated their position in fourth in the Premier League standings, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final clash at Cardiff and a league trip to Newcastle to come in the coming days. Uncertainty Regarding Maresca's Comments It was ambiguous who or what prompted Maresca to label the past 48 hours as the worst of his time as Chelsea manager. In that window, the Italian had traveled back with his backroom team and players from his native Italy, held a training session at the training ground, faced a pre-game news conference where he seemed at ease, and engineered a win over an in-form Everton side. It was hard to discern whether any particular media reports had unsettled him, if online comments were a factor, or if it was something deeper from inside the club at Stamford Bridge. Maresca only sought to rule out that it was an issue involving the club's supporters, a section of which have not yet fully embrace him since his arrival from Leicester in July last year.
Enzo Maresca signed for Chelsea from Leicester during July of last year. Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca revealed that the build-up to the weekend's triumph against Everton represented "the toughest 48 hours" of his tenure with the London club. The 44-year-old made a puzzling statement in his post-match interview even after notching a 2-0 win at home courtesy of strikes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto. Those points sent Chelsea back into the Premier League's top four, potentially lightening the atmosphere following a loss to Atalanta in the Champions League that had stretched the team's winless run to consecutive outings. But, when questioned about the full-back's contribution and overall performance, Maresca unexpectedly divulged his frustration over the preceding two days within the organization. "How the squad want to develop has been fantastic and this is the explanation why I commend them - because with so many problems, they are excelling after a complicated week," he said. "Since I joined the club, the previous 48 hours have been the worst because several people failed to back us." When pushed further on his meaning, the ex- Leicester City boss elaborated: "Worst 48 hours since I came to the club because people didn't support me and the team." When asked if he meant people internally at Chelsea, he responded: "In general. In general," before specifying when asked if it was aimed at fans or the press: "I adore the fans and we are extremely pleased with the fans." Injury & Disciplinary Crisis Maresca also pointed to Chelsea's ongoing injury and suspension problems, noting they had been without key forward Cole Palmer for much of the season, as well as losing key midfielder Moises Caicedo to a three-game ban and forward Liam Delap to two serious injuries. "I truly commend the players and the squad because we played 16 Premier League games, 5 of them without Moises Caicedo, 11 of them without Cole Palmer, almost all of them without Liam Delap," he said. "And this squad, no matter who is on the pitch, they are performing exceptionally. Today was 5 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 the vast majority of the season minus our top player. "We play five games in the Premier League without Moises Caicedo. This is the explanation why I'm so delighted for the players and it's something that I would like people outside to acknowledge because the work from the players is fantastic." Chelsea's win over Everton consolidated their position in fourth in the Premier League standings, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final clash at Cardiff and a league trip to Newcastle to come in the coming days. Uncertainty Regarding Maresca's Comments It was ambiguous who or what prompted Maresca to label the past 48 hours as the worst of his time as Chelsea manager. In that window, the Italian had traveled back with his backroom team and players from his native Italy, held a training session at the training ground, faced a pre-game news conference where he seemed at ease, and engineered a win over an in-form Everton side. It was hard to discern whether any particular media reports had unsettled him, if online comments were a factor, or if it was something deeper from inside the club at Stamford Bridge. Maresca only sought to rule out that it was an issue involving the club's supporters, a section of which have not yet fully embrace him since his arrival from Leicester in July last year.