🔗 Share this article Chelsea's Boss Enzo Maresca Calls Pre-Match Time as The 'Most Difficult Two Days' with the Club Enzo Maresca joined Chelsea after leaving Leicester during July of last year. Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca stated that the build-up to the weekend's win against Everton represented "the worst 48 hours" of his tenure at Stamford Bridge. The Italian delivered a puzzling comment in his after-game press conference even after securing a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge thanks to finishes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto. Those crucial points lifted Chelsea back into the Premier League's top four, perhaps lightening the atmosphere following a defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League that had stretched the team's winless run to consecutive fixtures. However, when questioned about Gusto's contribution and general display, Maresca unexpectedly disclosed his annoyance over the preceding 48-hour period at the organization. "The way the players are eager to improve has been excellent and this is the reason why I praise them - because with so many issues, they are doing very well after a complicated week," he commented. "From the moment I arrived at the club, the last 48 hours have been the most difficult because many people didn't support us." Pressed on the specifics, the former Leicester City boss continued: "Most difficult 48 hours since I joined the club because people didn't support me and the team." When questioned if he was referring to people within at Chelsea, he responded: "Broadly speaking. In general," before specifying when queried if it was directed towards supporters or the media: "I love the fans and we are very happy with the fans." Injury and Suspension Woes Maresca also pointed to Chelsea's persistent injury and suspension issues, noting they had been missing star attacker Cole Palmer for a large portion of the season, in addition to losing linchpin Moises Caicedo to a three-match ban and striker Liam Delap to a couple of significant injuries. "I really praise the players and the squad because we have played 16 Premier League games, five of them minus Moises Caicedo, eleven of them minus Cole Palmer, almost all of them minus Liam Delap," he explained. "And this squad, regardless of who is on the pitch, they are doing brilliantly. 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 best player. "We play 5 games in the Premier League without Moises Caicedo. This is the reason why I'm so delighted for the players and it's something that I would like people outside to recognize because the commitment from the players is fantastic." Chelsea's win over Everton consolidated their standing in 4th place in the Premier League standings, with a Carabao Cup last-eight tie at Cardiff and a league journey to Newcastle to come in the coming days. Uncertainty Over Maresca's Comments It was not immediately clear what exactly caused Maresca to describe the past 48 hours as the most difficult of his time as Chelsea head coach. In that window, the coach had returned with his backroom team and players from his native Italy, held a training session at the training ground, attended a pre-game news conference where he appeared relaxed, and secured a win over an in-form Everton team. It was hard to discern whether any specific media reports had unsettled him, if social media comments played a role, or if it was something more significant from inside the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge. Maresca specifically took care to rule out that it was an matter involving the club's fans, a section of which have still have yet to fully embrace him since his appointment from Leicester during July last year.
Enzo Maresca joined Chelsea after leaving Leicester during July of last year. Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca stated that the build-up to the weekend's win against Everton represented "the worst 48 hours" of his tenure at Stamford Bridge. The Italian delivered a puzzling comment in his after-game press conference even after securing a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge thanks to finishes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto. Those crucial points lifted Chelsea back into the Premier League's top four, perhaps lightening the atmosphere following a defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League that had stretched the team's winless run to consecutive fixtures. However, when questioned about Gusto's contribution and general display, Maresca unexpectedly disclosed his annoyance over the preceding 48-hour period at the organization. "The way the players are eager to improve has been excellent and this is the reason why I praise them - because with so many issues, they are doing very well after a complicated week," he commented. "From the moment I arrived at the club, the last 48 hours have been the most difficult because many people didn't support us." Pressed on the specifics, the former Leicester City boss continued: "Most difficult 48 hours since I joined the club because people didn't support me and the team." When questioned if he was referring to people within at Chelsea, he responded: "Broadly speaking. In general," before specifying when queried if it was directed towards supporters or the media: "I love the fans and we are very happy with the fans." Injury and Suspension Woes Maresca also pointed to Chelsea's persistent injury and suspension issues, noting they had been missing star attacker Cole Palmer for a large portion of the season, in addition to losing linchpin Moises Caicedo to a three-match ban and striker Liam Delap to a couple of significant injuries. "I really praise the players and the squad because we have played 16 Premier League games, five of them minus Moises Caicedo, eleven of them minus Cole Palmer, almost all of them minus Liam Delap," he explained. "And this squad, regardless of who is on the pitch, they are doing brilliantly. 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 best player. "We play 5 games in the Premier League without Moises Caicedo. This is the reason why I'm so delighted for the players and it's something that I would like people outside to recognize because the commitment from the players is fantastic." Chelsea's win over Everton consolidated their standing in 4th place in the Premier League standings, with a Carabao Cup last-eight tie at Cardiff and a league journey to Newcastle to come in the coming days. Uncertainty Over Maresca's Comments It was not immediately clear what exactly caused Maresca to describe the past 48 hours as the most difficult of his time as Chelsea head coach. In that window, the coach had returned with his backroom team and players from his native Italy, held a training session at the training ground, attended a pre-game news conference where he appeared relaxed, and secured a win over an in-form Everton team. It was hard to discern whether any specific media reports had unsettled him, if social media comments played a role, or if it was something more significant from inside the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge. Maresca specifically took care to rule out that it was an matter involving the club's fans, a section of which have still have yet to fully embrace him since his appointment from Leicester during July last year.