The Manager Maresca Describes Lead-Up Period as The 'Worst 48 Hours' with the Club

Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca remarked that the build-up to Saturday's win against Everton constituted "the most challenging 48 hours" since his arrival with the London club.

The 44-year-old made a puzzling statement in his after-game press conference even after securing a 2-0 win at home thanks to strikes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.

Those points propelled Chelsea once again into the English top flight's top four, perhaps lightening the atmosphere following a defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League that had extended the side's winless run to consecutive fixtures.

However, when questioned about the full-back's contribution and overall display, Maresca unexpectedly disclosed his frustration over the preceding 48-hour period within the club.

"The way the lads are eager to improve has been superb and this is the reason why I applaud them - because with numerous issues, they are performing admirably after a complicated week," he said.

"From the moment I arrived at the club, the previous 48 hours have been the most difficult because a lot of people didn't support us."

When pushed further on his meaning, the former Leicester City boss added: "Most difficult 48 hours since I joined the club because people failed to back me and the team."

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

Fitness and Suspension Woes

Maresca also highlighted Chelsea's ongoing fitness and disciplinary issues, remarking they had been missing star attacker Cole Palmer for much of the season, in addition to losing key midfielder Moises Caicedo to a three-match ban and forward Liam Delap to two significant injuries.

"I truly applaud the players and the squad because we played 16 Premier League games, 5 of them without Moises Caicedo, 11 of them minus Cole Palmer, nearly every one of them without Liam Delap," he said.

"And this squad, regardless of who is on the pitch, they are performing brilliantly. Today was five games in 12 days so undoubtedly when you see Cole Palmer playing, we said many times that he's our finest player but we play the vast majority of the season without our top player.

"We play 5 games in the Premier League without Moises Caicedo. This is the reason why I'm so pleased for the players and it's something that I would want people outside to acknowledge because the commitment from the players is outstanding."

Chelsea's success over Everton strengthened their standing in 4th place in the Premier League standings, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final clash at Cardiff and a league trip to Newcastle to come in the coming days.

Uncertainty Regarding Maresca's Comments

It was not immediately clear who or what caused Maresca to label the previous 48 hours as the most difficult of his tenure as Chelsea manager.

In that timeframe, the coach had traveled back with his backroom team and players from his native Italy, conducted a session at the training ground, attended a pre-game press briefing where he seemed at ease, and secured a win over an high-flying Everton side.

It was unclear whether any specific press stories had irked him, if online discourse played a role, or if it was something deeper from within the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca only sought to deny that it was an issue related to the club's supporters, a section of which have not yet fully warm to him since his appointment from Leicester in July last year.