The Boss Maresca Labels Pre-Match Time as His 'Toughest 48 Hours' at the Blues

Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca revealed that the run-up to the weekend's victory against Everton constituted "the most challenging 48 hours" of his tenure with the London club.

The Italian offered a rather mysterious message in his after-game interview even after notching a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge courtesy of finishes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.

Those crucial points lifted Chelsea once again into the English top flight's top four, potentially lightening the mood following a defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League that had stretched the side's winless run to consecutive outings.

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

"The way the players are eager to improve has been excellent and this is the explanation why I applaud them - because with a host of problems, they are excelling after a complicated week," he commented.

"Since I joined the club, the last 48 hours have been the most difficult because several people failed to back us."

Pressed on what he meant, the ex- Leicester City boss added: "Most difficult 48 hours since I came to the club because people failed to back me and the team."

When questioned if he meant people internally at Chelsea, he responded: "Broadly speaking. Overall," before specifying when asked if it was aimed at supporters or the press: "I adore the fans and we are extremely pleased with the fans."

Injury and Suspension Woes

Maresca also pointed to Chelsea's ongoing fitness and disciplinary problems, remarking they had been missing star attacker Cole Palmer for a large portion of the campaign, as well as losing key midfielder Moises Caicedo to a three-game ban and forward Liam Delap to a couple of significant injuries.

"I truly praise the players and the squad because we have played 16 Premier League games, five of them minus Moises Caicedo, eleven of them minus Cole Palmer, nearly every one of them without Liam Delap," he explained.

"And this squad, no matter who is playing, they are doing brilliantly. Today was five games in 12 days so for sure when you see Cole Palmer playing, 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 explanation why I'm so happy for the players and it's something that I would want people externally to appreciate because the work from the players is remarkable."

Chelsea's triumph over Everton cemented their position in 4th place in the Premier League table, with a Carabao Cup last-eight clash at Cardiff and a league trip to Newcastle to come next week.

Speculation Regarding Maresca's Remark

It was not immediately clear what exactly caused Maresca to label the previous 48 hours as the most difficult of his tenure as Chelsea head coach.

In that window, the Italian had traveled back with his staff and players from his native Italy, held a session at Cobham, faced a pre-match news conference where he appeared at ease, and secured a win over an in-form Everton side.

It was not obvious whether any particular press stories had irked him, if social media discourse played a role, or if it was something more significant from inside 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 embrace him since his appointment from Leicester in July last year.