🔗 Share this article The Boss Enzo Maresca Calls Pre-Match Period as His 'Worst Two Days' at the Club Enzo Maresca moved to Chelsea after leaving Leicester in July of last year. Chelsea tactician Enzo Maresca remarked that the run-up to the weekend's triumph against Everton represented "the most challenging 48 hours" since his arrival with the London club. The 44-year-old delivered a somewhat cryptic message in his after-game press conference despite notching a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge courtesy of finishes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto. Those points sent Chelsea once again into the English top flight's top four, potentially improving the atmosphere after a defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League that had stretched the side's drought without a win to four fixtures. Yet, when asked about the full-back's contribution and overall performance, Maresca unexpectedly disclosed his frustration over the previous two days at the club. "The way the players are eager to improve has been excellent and this is the explanation why I praise them - because with a host of problems, 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 worst because many people withheld support from us." Pressed on the specifics, the former Leicester City boss elaborated: "Worst 48 hours since I joined the club because people didn't support me and the team." When questioned if he meant people internally at Chelsea, he replied: "In general. Overall," before specifying when asked if it was directed towards supporters or the press: "I adore the fans and we are very happy with the fans." Fitness & Disciplinary Woes Maresca also drew attention to Chelsea's persistent injury and suspension issues, remarking they had been without key forward Cole Palmer for a large portion of the season, in addition to losing linchpin Moises Caicedo to a three-game ban and forward Liam Delap to two serious injuries. "I truly applaud the players and the squad because we have played 16 Premier League games, 5 of them minus Moises Caicedo, 11 of them without Cole Palmer, almost all of them minus Liam Delap," he said. "And this squad, regardless of who is playing, they are performing exceptionally. Today was 5 games in 12 days so undoubtedly when you see Cole Palmer there, we have said many times that he's our best player but we play almost all season minus 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 like people outside to appreciate because the commitment from the players is fantastic." Chelsea's triumph over Everton strengthened their position in fourth in the Premier League standings, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final clash at Cardiff and a league journey to Newcastle scheduled next week. Uncertainty Over Maresca's Remark It was ambiguous what exactly prompted Maresca to label the previous 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, attended a pre-match press briefing where he seemed relaxed, and engineered a victory over an in-form Everton team. It was unclear whether any specific press stories had unsettled him, if social media comments played a role, or if it was something deeper from within the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge. Maresca specifically took care to rule out that it was an matter involving the club's fans, some of whom have not yet fully warm to him since his appointment from Leicester in July 2024.
Enzo Maresca moved to Chelsea after leaving Leicester in July of last year. Chelsea tactician Enzo Maresca remarked that the run-up to the weekend's triumph against Everton represented "the most challenging 48 hours" since his arrival with the London club. The 44-year-old delivered a somewhat cryptic message in his after-game press conference despite notching a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge courtesy of finishes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto. Those points sent Chelsea once again into the English top flight's top four, potentially improving the atmosphere after a defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League that had stretched the side's drought without a win to four fixtures. Yet, when asked about the full-back's contribution and overall performance, Maresca unexpectedly disclosed his frustration over the previous two days at the club. "The way the players are eager to improve has been excellent and this is the explanation why I praise them - because with a host of problems, 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 worst because many people withheld support from us." Pressed on the specifics, the former Leicester City boss elaborated: "Worst 48 hours since I joined the club because people didn't support me and the team." When questioned if he meant people internally at Chelsea, he replied: "In general. Overall," before specifying when asked if it was directed towards supporters or the press: "I adore the fans and we are very happy with the fans." Fitness & Disciplinary Woes Maresca also drew attention to Chelsea's persistent injury and suspension issues, remarking they had been without key forward Cole Palmer for a large portion of the season, in addition to losing linchpin Moises Caicedo to a three-game ban and forward Liam Delap to two serious injuries. "I truly applaud the players and the squad because we have played 16 Premier League games, 5 of them minus Moises Caicedo, 11 of them without Cole Palmer, almost all of them minus Liam Delap," he said. "And this squad, regardless of who is playing, they are performing exceptionally. Today was 5 games in 12 days so undoubtedly when you see Cole Palmer there, we have said many times that he's our best player but we play almost all season minus 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 like people outside to appreciate because the commitment from the players is fantastic." Chelsea's triumph over Everton strengthened their position in fourth in the Premier League standings, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final clash at Cardiff and a league journey to Newcastle scheduled next week. Uncertainty Over Maresca's Remark It was ambiguous what exactly prompted Maresca to label the previous 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, attended a pre-match press briefing where he seemed relaxed, and engineered a victory over an in-form Everton team. It was unclear whether any specific press stories had unsettled him, if social media comments played a role, or if it was something deeper from within the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge. Maresca specifically took care to rule out that it was an matter involving the club's fans, some of whom have not yet fully warm to him since his appointment from Leicester in July 2024.