The Manager Enzo Maresca Calls Pre-Match Time as The 'Most Difficult 48 Hours' at the Blues

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca revealed that the run-up to Saturday's win against Everton constituted "the worst 48 hours" he has experienced at Stamford Bridge.

The Italian made a somewhat cryptic message in his post-match interview despite securing a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge through finishes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.

Those points sent Chelsea back into the English top flight's top four, perhaps improving the atmosphere after a loss to Atalanta in the Champions League that had extended the side's winless run to four outings.

However, when asked about Gusto's contribution and overall display, Maresca surprisingly divulged his annoyance over the previous two days within the organization.

"How the players are eager to develop has been fantastic and this is the explanation why I commend them - because with numerous issues, they are performing admirably after a tricky week," he stated.

"From the moment I arrived at the club, the past 48 hours have been the worst because many people didn't support us."

When pushed further on his meaning, the former Leicester City boss 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: "In general. Overall," before specifying when asked if it was directed towards fans or the press: "I love the fans and we are very happy with the fans."

Fitness and Suspension Crisis

Maresca also pointed to Chelsea's persistent injury and suspension issues, remarking they had been without star attacker Cole Palmer for much of the campaign, in addition to being deprived of key midfielder Moises Caicedo to a three-match ban and forward Liam Delap to a couple of significant injuries.

"I really praise the players and the squad because we have played 16 Premier League games, 5 of them without Moises Caicedo, 11 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 performing exceptionally. Today was five games in 12 days so for sure when you see Cole Palmer playing, we have said many times that he's our best player but we play almost all season without our top player.

"We play 5 games in the Premier League without Moises Caicedo. This is the explanation why I'm so pleased for the players and it's something that I would like people outside to recognize because the work 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 clash at Cardiff and a league journey to Newcastle to come next week.

Speculation Over Maresca's Remark

It was ambiguous who or what caused Maresca to label the previous 48 hours as the worst of his tenure as Chelsea head coach.

In that period, the coach had returned with his staff and players from Bergamo, held a session at Cobham, faced a pre-game press briefing where he seemed relaxed, and secured a victory over an high-flying 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 within the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge.

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