The Boss Enzo Maresca Calls Lead-Up Time as The 'Most Difficult Two Days' with the Club

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca stated that the build-up to the weekend's win against Everton was "the toughest 48 hours" since his arrival with the London club.

The Italian delivered a puzzling comment in his post-match media briefing even after earning a 2-0 win at home through strikes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.

Those three precious points sent Chelsea back into the English top flight's top four, perhaps lightening the atmosphere after a defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League that had stretched the side's winless run to four fixtures.

However, when asked about the full-back's contribution and general performance, Maresca unexpectedly divulged his frustration over the preceding 48-hour period within the organization.

"How the players want to improve has been fantastic and this is the reason why I praise them - because with so many challenges, they are performing admirably after a tricky week," he commented.

"From the moment I arrived at the club, the last 48 hours have been the toughest because several people didn't support us."

Pressed on his meaning, the ex- Leicester City manager continued: "Worst 48 hours since I joined the club because people didn't support me and the team."

When questioned if he was referring to people internally at Chelsea, he replied: "In general. In general," before specifying when asked if it was aimed at fans or the media: "I love the fans and we are very content with the fans."

Fitness and Suspension Crisis

Maresca also pointed to Chelsea's persistent fitness and suspension issues, remarking they had been without key forward Cole Palmer for much of the season, as well as being deprived of linchpin Moises Caicedo to a three-match ban and forward Liam Delap to a couple of significant injuries.

"I truly applaud the players and the squad because we have played 16 Premier League games, 5 of them minus Moises Caicedo, eleven of them without Cole Palmer, nearly every one of them without Liam Delap," he said.

"And this squad, regardless of who is playing, they are doing 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 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 want people externally to acknowledge because the effort from the players is remarkable."

Chelsea's triumph over Everton cemented their position in fourth in the Premier League table, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final tie at Cardiff and a league trip to Newcastle scheduled next week.

Speculation Over Maresca's Comments

It was ambiguous what exactly caused Maresca to label the past 48 hours as the most difficult of his spell as Chelsea manager.

In that timeframe, the Italian had returned with his staff and players from Bergamo, held a session at Cobham, attended a pre-match press briefing where he seemed relaxed, and engineered a win over an in-form Everton side.

It was not obvious whether any specific press stories had unsettled him, if social media comments were a factor, or if it was something more significant from inside the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca only sought to rule out that it was an issue related to the club's supporters, some of whom have not yet fully embrace him since his appointment from Leicester during July last year.