🔗 Share this article Chelsea's Boss Maresca Describes Pre-Match Period as The 'Toughest Two Days' at the Club Enzo Maresca joined Chelsea after leaving Leicester in July 2024. Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca revealed that the build-up to the weekend's victory against Everton represented "the toughest 48 hours" since his arrival at Stamford Bridge. The Italian made a puzzling comment in his post-match interview despite notching a 2-0 win at home through finishes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto. Those crucial points propelled Chelsea back into the English top flight's top four, perhaps improving the atmosphere following a loss to Atalanta in the Champions League that had stretched the side's winless run to four matches. But, when asked about Gusto's assist and overall performance, Maresca surprisingly shared his annoyance over the previous 48-hour period at the organization. "How the players are eager to develop has been excellent and this is the reason why I applaud them - because with a host of challenges, they are doing very well after a difficult 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 ex- Leicester City manager added: "Worst 48 hours since I came to the club because people failed to back me and the team." When asked if he meant people within at Chelsea, he replied: "Broadly speaking. Overall," before specifying when queried if it was aimed at supporters or the press: "I love the fans and we are very content with the fans." Fitness & Suspension Crisis Maresca also drew attention to Chelsea's ongoing fitness and disciplinary problems, remarking they had been missing key forward Cole Palmer for much of the season, as well as being deprived of key midfielder Moises Caicedo to a three-match ban and striker Liam Delap to two significant injuries. "I truly commend the players and the squad because we have played 16 Premier League games, five of them minus 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 doing fantastic. Today was five games in 12 days so undoubtedly when you see Cole Palmer available, we have said many times that he's our finest player but we play almost all season minus our top player. "We play 5 games in the Premier League minus Moises Caicedo. This is the reason why I'm so pleased for the players and it's something that I would like people outside to recognize because the effort from the players is fantastic." Chelsea's win over Everton cemented their position in 4th place in the Premier League standings, with a Carabao Cup last-eight clash at Cardiff and a league trip to Newcastle scheduled in the coming days. Speculation Regarding Maresca's Remark It was not immediately clear who or what prompted Maresca to describe the previous 48 hours as the most difficult of his time as Chelsea manager. In that timeframe, the coach had traveled back with his backroom team and players from Bergamo, held a training session at the training ground, attended a pre-match press briefing where he appeared at ease, and secured a victory over an high-flying Everton side. It was not obvious whether any specific media reports had irked him, if social media discourse played a role, or if it was something more significant from within the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge. Maresca specifically took care to rule out that it was an matter related to the club's supporters, a section of which have still have yet to fully embrace him since his appointment from Leicester during July 2024.
Enzo Maresca joined Chelsea after leaving Leicester in July 2024. Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca revealed that the build-up to the weekend's victory against Everton represented "the toughest 48 hours" since his arrival at Stamford Bridge. The Italian made a puzzling comment in his post-match interview despite notching a 2-0 win at home through finishes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto. Those crucial points propelled Chelsea back into the English top flight's top four, perhaps improving the atmosphere following a loss to Atalanta in the Champions League that had stretched the side's winless run to four matches. But, when asked about Gusto's assist and overall performance, Maresca surprisingly shared his annoyance over the previous 48-hour period at the organization. "How the players are eager to develop has been excellent and this is the reason why I applaud them - because with a host of challenges, they are doing very well after a difficult 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 ex- Leicester City manager added: "Worst 48 hours since I came to the club because people failed to back me and the team." When asked if he meant people within at Chelsea, he replied: "Broadly speaking. Overall," before specifying when queried if it was aimed at supporters or the press: "I love the fans and we are very content with the fans." Fitness & Suspension Crisis Maresca also drew attention to Chelsea's ongoing fitness and disciplinary problems, remarking they had been missing key forward Cole Palmer for much of the season, as well as being deprived of key midfielder Moises Caicedo to a three-match ban and striker Liam Delap to two significant injuries. "I truly commend the players and the squad because we have played 16 Premier League games, five of them minus 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 doing fantastic. Today was five games in 12 days so undoubtedly when you see Cole Palmer available, we have said many times that he's our finest player but we play almost all season minus our top player. "We play 5 games in the Premier League minus Moises Caicedo. This is the reason why I'm so pleased for the players and it's something that I would like people outside to recognize because the effort from the players is fantastic." Chelsea's win over Everton cemented their position in 4th place in the Premier League standings, with a Carabao Cup last-eight clash at Cardiff and a league trip to Newcastle scheduled in the coming days. Speculation Regarding Maresca's Remark It was not immediately clear who or what prompted Maresca to describe the previous 48 hours as the most difficult of his time as Chelsea manager. In that timeframe, the coach had traveled back with his backroom team and players from Bergamo, held a training session at the training ground, attended a pre-match press briefing where he appeared at ease, and secured a victory over an high-flying Everton side. It was not obvious whether any specific media reports had irked him, if social media discourse played a role, or if it was something more significant from within the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge. Maresca specifically took care to rule out that it was an matter related to the club's supporters, a section of which have still have yet to fully embrace him since his appointment from Leicester during July 2024.