🔗 Share this article The Boss Maresca Labels Pre-Match Period as His 'Worst Two Days' with the Club Enzo Maresca joined Chelsea after leaving Leicester during July 2024. Chelsea tactician Enzo Maresca stated that the run-up to Saturday's win against Everton represented "the most challenging 48 hours" since his arrival with the London club. The Italian offered a somewhat cryptic statement in his post-match press conference despite notching a 2-0 win at home courtesy of finishes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto. Those crucial points propelled Chelsea once again into the English top flight's top four, perhaps improving the mood following a defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League that had extended the team's winless run to four outings. But, when asked about Gusto's assist and overall display, Maresca unexpectedly shared his annoyance over the previous 48-hour period at the organization. "How the squad want to develop has been fantastic and this is the reason why I commend them - because with a host of issues, they are doing very well after a complicated week," he said. "From the moment I arrived at the club, the past 48 hours have been the toughest because several people withheld support from us." Pressed on the specifics, 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 questioned if he meant people within at Chelsea, he answered: "Broadly speaking. Overall," before clarifying when asked if it was aimed at fans or the press: "I adore the fans and we are very pleased with the fans." Injury & Disciplinary Crisis Maresca also highlighted Chelsea's ongoing injury and disciplinary problems, remarking they had been without star attacker Cole Palmer for a large portion of the season, in addition to being deprived of key midfielder Moises Caicedo to a three-match ban and forward Liam Delap to two significant injuries. "I really applaud the players and the squad because we 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 said. "And this squad, regardless of who is playing, they are performing 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 best player but we play the vast majority of the season without our best player. "We play five 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 work from the players is remarkable." Chelsea's success 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 scheduled in the coming days. Uncertainty Over Maresca's Remark It was ambiguous what exactly caused Maresca to describe the past 48 hours as the worst of his time as Chelsea manager. In that timeframe, the Italian had returned with his staff and players from Bergamo, conducted a session at the training ground, faced a pre-game press briefing where he appeared at ease, and secured a victory over an in-form Everton side. It was not obvious whether any specific press stories had unsettled him, if online comments played a role, or if it was something deeper from inside the club at Stamford Bridge. Maresca specifically took care to deny that it was an issue involving the club's supporters, a section of which have still have yet to fully warm to him since his appointment from Leicester during July 2024.
Enzo Maresca joined Chelsea after leaving Leicester during July 2024. Chelsea tactician Enzo Maresca stated that the run-up to Saturday's win against Everton represented "the most challenging 48 hours" since his arrival with the London club. The Italian offered a somewhat cryptic statement in his post-match press conference despite notching a 2-0 win at home courtesy of finishes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto. Those crucial points propelled Chelsea once again into the English top flight's top four, perhaps improving the mood following a defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League that had extended the team's winless run to four outings. But, when asked about Gusto's assist and overall display, Maresca unexpectedly shared his annoyance over the previous 48-hour period at the organization. "How the squad want to develop has been fantastic and this is the reason why I commend them - because with a host of issues, they are doing very well after a complicated week," he said. "From the moment I arrived at the club, the past 48 hours have been the toughest because several people withheld support from us." Pressed on the specifics, 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 questioned if he meant people within at Chelsea, he answered: "Broadly speaking. Overall," before clarifying when asked if it was aimed at fans or the press: "I adore the fans and we are very pleased with the fans." Injury & Disciplinary Crisis Maresca also highlighted Chelsea's ongoing injury and disciplinary problems, remarking they had been without star attacker Cole Palmer for a large portion of the season, in addition to being deprived of key midfielder Moises Caicedo to a three-match ban and forward Liam Delap to two significant injuries. "I really applaud the players and the squad because we 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 said. "And this squad, regardless of who is playing, they are performing 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 best player but we play the vast majority of the season without our best player. "We play five 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 work from the players is remarkable." Chelsea's success 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 scheduled in the coming days. Uncertainty Over Maresca's Remark It was ambiguous what exactly caused Maresca to describe the past 48 hours as the worst of his time as Chelsea manager. In that timeframe, the Italian had returned with his staff and players from Bergamo, conducted a session at the training ground, faced a pre-game press briefing where he appeared at ease, and secured a victory over an in-form Everton side. It was not obvious whether any specific press stories had unsettled him, if online comments played a role, or if it was something deeper from inside the club at Stamford Bridge. Maresca specifically took care to deny that it was an issue involving the club's supporters, a section of which have still have yet to fully warm to him since his appointment from Leicester during July 2024.