The Manager Enzo Maresca Labels Pre-Match Time as His 'Worst 48 Hours' at the Club

Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca revealed that the run-up to Saturday's win against Everton represented "the toughest 48 hours" since his arrival at Stamford Bridge.

The Italian offered a somewhat cryptic statement in his post-match media briefing even after notching a 2-0 win at home courtesy of strikes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.

Those crucial points lifted Chelsea back into the English top flight's top four, potentially lightening the atmosphere following a defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League that had stretched the side's winless run to consecutive fixtures.

Yet, when asked about the full-back's assist and general display, Maresca unexpectedly shared his displeasure over the previous two days at the club.

"The way the players want to improve has been fantastic and this is the reason why I commend them - because with so many issues, they are performing admirably after a tricky week," he said.

"Since I joined the club, the past 48 hours have been the toughest because several people didn't support us."

When pushed further on the specifics, the ex- Leicester City boss continued: "Most difficult 48 hours since I came to the club because people failed to back me and the team."

When questioned if he meant people within at Chelsea, he answered: "In general. In general," before specifying when queried if it was aimed at fans or the press: "I adore the fans and we are extremely happy with the fans."

Injury & Disciplinary Crisis

Maresca also drew attention to Chelsea's persistent fitness and disciplinary issues, remarking they had been missing star attacker Cole Palmer for much of the campaign, in addition to losing linchpin Moises Caicedo to a three-game ban and forward Liam Delap to a couple of significant 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 minus Cole Palmer, almost all of them without Liam Delap," he explained.

"And this squad, regardless of who is playing, they are performing fantastic. 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 top player but we play the vast majority of the season without our best player.

"We play 5 games in the Premier League minus Moises Caicedo. This is the reason why I'm so delighted for the players and it's something that I would want people outside to acknowledge because the effort from the players is remarkable."

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

Uncertainty Regarding Maresca's Comments

It was ambiguous what exactly prompted Maresca to label the previous 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, conducted a session at the training ground, faced a pre-game press briefing where he seemed at ease, and secured a victory over an high-flying Everton side.

It was not obvious whether any particular media reports had unsettled him, if social media comments were a factor, or if it was something deeper from inside the club at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca only sought to deny that it was an issue related to the club's fans, a section of which have still have yet to fully embrace him since his arrival from Leicester during July last year.