🔗 Share this article Chelsea's Manager Enzo Maresca Calls Lead-Up Time as The 'Toughest Two Days' with the Club Enzo Maresca joined Chelsea after leaving Leicester during July of last year. Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca revealed that the preparation to Saturday's victory against Everton was "the most challenging 48 hours" he has experienced with the London club. The Italian delivered a rather mysterious message in his after-game press conference despite securing a 2-0 win at home thanks to strikes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto. Those points lifted Chelsea once again into the English top flight's top four, perhaps improving the atmosphere following a defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League that had stretched the team's drought without a win to consecutive matches. But, when asked about Gusto's contribution and general display, Maresca unexpectedly shared his annoyance over the previous 48-hour period within the organization. "The way the players are eager to improve has been fantastic and this is the explanation why I praise them - because with a host of challenges, they are excelling after a difficult week," he said. "From the moment I arrived at the club, the previous 48 hours have been the toughest because a lot of people didn't support us." Pressed on his meaning, the former Leicester City manager continued: "Most difficult 48 hours since I joined the club because people failed to back me and the team." When questioned if he was referring to people within at Chelsea, he responded: "Broadly speaking. In general," before clarifying when queried if it was directed towards fans or the press: "I adore the fans and we are very pleased with the fans." Fitness and Suspension Crisis Maresca also pointed to Chelsea's persistent injury and disciplinary problems, remarking they had been missing key forward Cole Palmer for much of the campaign, in addition to losing key midfielder Moises Caicedo to a three-game ban and striker Liam Delap to a couple of serious injuries. "I truly praise the players and the squad because we played 16 Premier League games, 5 of them without Moises Caicedo, 11 of them without Cole Palmer, nearly every one of them minus Liam Delap," he said. "And this squad, no matter who is on the pitch, they are doing brilliantly. Today was 5 games in 12 days so undoubtedly when you see Cole Palmer there, we 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 delighted for the players and it's something that I would want people externally to acknowledge because the work from the players is outstanding." Chelsea's win over Everton strengthened their standing in fourth in the Premier League standings, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final tie at Cardiff and a league journey to Newcastle to come in the coming days. Speculation Regarding Maresca's Remark It was not immediately clear who or what prompted Maresca to label the past 48 hours as the most difficult of his spell as Chelsea head coach. In that period, the Italian had returned with his backroom team and players from his native Italy, held a session at the training ground, attended a pre-game press briefing where he appeared relaxed, and secured a victory over an high-flying Everton side. It was hard to discern whether any particular press stories had unsettled him, if online discourse played a role, or if it was something deeper from inside the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge. Maresca specifically took care to rule out that it was an matter involving the club's supporters, some of whom have not yet fully warm to him since his appointment from Leicester during July 2024.
Enzo Maresca joined Chelsea after leaving Leicester during July of last year. Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca revealed that the preparation to Saturday's victory against Everton was "the most challenging 48 hours" he has experienced with the London club. The Italian delivered a rather mysterious message in his after-game press conference despite securing a 2-0 win at home thanks to strikes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto. Those points lifted Chelsea once again into the English top flight's top four, perhaps improving the atmosphere following a defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League that had stretched the team's drought without a win to consecutive matches. But, when asked about Gusto's contribution and general display, Maresca unexpectedly shared his annoyance over the previous 48-hour period within the organization. "The way the players are eager to improve has been fantastic and this is the explanation why I praise them - because with a host of challenges, they are excelling after a difficult week," he said. "From the moment I arrived at the club, the previous 48 hours have been the toughest because a lot of people didn't support us." Pressed on his meaning, the former Leicester City manager continued: "Most difficult 48 hours since I joined the club because people failed to back me and the team." When questioned if he was referring to people within at Chelsea, he responded: "Broadly speaking. In general," before clarifying when queried if it was directed towards fans or the press: "I adore the fans and we are very pleased with the fans." Fitness and Suspension Crisis Maresca also pointed to Chelsea's persistent injury and disciplinary problems, remarking they had been missing key forward Cole Palmer for much of the campaign, in addition to losing key midfielder Moises Caicedo to a three-game ban and striker Liam Delap to a couple of serious injuries. "I truly praise the players and the squad because we played 16 Premier League games, 5 of them without Moises Caicedo, 11 of them without Cole Palmer, nearly every one of them minus Liam Delap," he said. "And this squad, no matter who is on the pitch, they are doing brilliantly. Today was 5 games in 12 days so undoubtedly when you see Cole Palmer there, we 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 delighted for the players and it's something that I would want people externally to acknowledge because the work from the players is outstanding." Chelsea's win over Everton strengthened their standing in fourth in the Premier League standings, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final tie at Cardiff and a league journey to Newcastle to come in the coming days. Speculation Regarding Maresca's Remark It was not immediately clear who or what prompted Maresca to label the past 48 hours as the most difficult of his spell as Chelsea head coach. In that period, the Italian had returned with his backroom team and players from his native Italy, held a session at the training ground, attended a pre-game press briefing where he appeared relaxed, and secured a victory over an high-flying Everton side. It was hard to discern whether any particular press stories had unsettled him, if online discourse played a role, or if it was something deeper from inside the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge. Maresca specifically took care to rule out that it was an matter involving the club's supporters, some of whom have not yet fully warm to him since his appointment from Leicester during July 2024.