🔗 Share this article Chelsea's Manager Maresca Calls Pre-Match Period as The 'Worst 48 Hours' with the Club Enzo Maresca signed for Chelsea after leaving Leicester in July of last year. Chelsea tactician Enzo Maresca stated that the preparation to the weekend's victory against Everton constituted "the worst 48 hours" he has experienced with the London club. The 44-year-old made a somewhat cryptic comment in his after-game press conference even after securing a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge thanks to strikes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto. Those three precious points sent Chelsea back into the Premier League's top four, perhaps lightening the atmosphere following a loss to Atalanta in the Champions League that had extended the side's winless run to four outings. However, when questioned about the full-back's contribution and overall display, Maresca unexpectedly disclosed his annoyance over the previous 48-hour period at the club. "The way the lads are eager to improve has been excellent and this is the reason why I commend them - because with numerous challenges, they are doing very well after a difficult week," he said. "From the moment I arrived at the club, the last 48 hours have been the worst because a lot of people failed to back us." When pushed further on his meaning, the ex- Leicester City manager added: "Most difficult 48 hours since I joined the club because people failed to back me and the team." When questioned if he meant people within at Chelsea, he answered: "In general. Overall," before specifying when queried if it was directed towards fans or the media: "I love the fans and we are very pleased with the fans." Fitness and Suspension Crisis Maresca also highlighted Chelsea's ongoing injury and suspension issues, remarking they had been without star attacker Cole Palmer for much of the campaign, in addition to being deprived of linchpin Moises Caicedo to a three-match ban and striker Liam Delap to a couple of significant injuries. "I really commend the players and the squad because we played 16 Premier League games, 5 of them without Moises Caicedo, 11 of them minus Cole Palmer, almost all of them minus Liam Delap," he explained. "And this squad, regardless of who is playing, they are performing fantastic. Today was five games in 12 days so for sure 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 minus our top player. "We play 5 games in the Premier League without Moises Caicedo. This is the explanation why I'm so pleased for the players and it's something that I would like people externally to recognize because the work from the players is remarkable." Chelsea's success over Everton consolidated their position in fourth in the Premier League standings, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final clash at Cardiff and a league trip to Newcastle to come next week. Uncertainty Over Maresca's Comments It was not immediately clear who or what caused Maresca to describe the past 48 hours as the worst of his time as Chelsea manager. In that window, the Italian had traveled back with his backroom team and players from his native Italy, held a training session at the training ground, attended a pre-match press briefing where he appeared relaxed, and engineered a win over an in-form Everton team. It was unclear whether any particular media reports had irked him, if online discourse played a role, or if it was something more significant from within the club at Stamford Bridge. Maresca specifically took care to rule out that it was an matter involving the club's supporters, some of whom have still have yet to fully warm to him since his appointment from Leicester in July last year.
Enzo Maresca signed for Chelsea after leaving Leicester in July of last year. Chelsea tactician Enzo Maresca stated that the preparation to the weekend's victory against Everton constituted "the worst 48 hours" he has experienced with the London club. The 44-year-old made a somewhat cryptic comment in his after-game press conference even after securing a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge thanks to strikes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto. Those three precious points sent Chelsea back into the Premier League's top four, perhaps lightening the atmosphere following a loss to Atalanta in the Champions League that had extended the side's winless run to four outings. However, when questioned about the full-back's contribution and overall display, Maresca unexpectedly disclosed his annoyance over the previous 48-hour period at the club. "The way the lads are eager to improve has been excellent and this is the reason why I commend them - because with numerous challenges, they are doing very well after a difficult week," he said. "From the moment I arrived at the club, the last 48 hours have been the worst because a lot of people failed to back us." When pushed further on his meaning, the ex- Leicester City manager added: "Most difficult 48 hours since I joined the club because people failed to back me and the team." When questioned if he meant people within at Chelsea, he answered: "In general. Overall," before specifying when queried if it was directed towards fans or the media: "I love the fans and we are very pleased with the fans." Fitness and Suspension Crisis Maresca also highlighted Chelsea's ongoing injury and suspension issues, remarking they had been without star attacker Cole Palmer for much of the campaign, in addition to being deprived of linchpin Moises Caicedo to a three-match ban and striker Liam Delap to a couple of significant injuries. "I really commend the players and the squad because we played 16 Premier League games, 5 of them without Moises Caicedo, 11 of them minus Cole Palmer, almost all of them minus Liam Delap," he explained. "And this squad, regardless of who is playing, they are performing fantastic. Today was five games in 12 days so for sure 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 minus our top player. "We play 5 games in the Premier League without Moises Caicedo. This is the explanation why I'm so pleased for the players and it's something that I would like people externally to recognize because the work from the players is remarkable." Chelsea's success over Everton consolidated their position in fourth in the Premier League standings, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final clash at Cardiff and a league trip to Newcastle to come next week. Uncertainty Over Maresca's Comments It was not immediately clear who or what caused Maresca to describe the past 48 hours as the worst of his time as Chelsea manager. In that window, the Italian had traveled back with his backroom team and players from his native Italy, held a training session at the training ground, attended a pre-match press briefing where he appeared relaxed, and engineered a win over an in-form Everton team. It was unclear whether any particular media reports had irked him, if online discourse played a role, or if it was something more significant from within the club at Stamford Bridge. Maresca specifically took care to rule out that it was an matter involving the club's supporters, some of whom have still have yet to fully warm to him since his appointment from Leicester in July last year.