The Manager Maresca Calls Pre-Match Period as The 'Toughest 48 Hours' with the Club

Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca stated that the run-up to Saturday's triumph against Everton represented "the worst 48 hours" he has experienced at Stamford Bridge.

The 44-year-old delivered a rather mysterious comment in his after-game media briefing even after earning a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge courtesy of strikes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.

Those three precious points lifted Chelsea once again into the Premier League's top four, potentially lightening the atmosphere following a loss to Atalanta in the Champions League that had extended the team's drought without a win to consecutive fixtures.

But, when questioned about Gusto's assist and overall display, Maresca surprisingly divulged his frustration over the preceding two days at the club.

"How the players are eager to improve has been superb and this is the reason why I applaud them - because with so many challenges, they are doing very well after a difficult week," he stated.

"Since I joined the club, the past 48 hours have been the toughest because several people failed to back us."

Pressed on the specifics, the ex- Leicester City boss elaborated: "Worst 48 hours since I came to the club because people didn't support me and the team."

When asked if he meant people internally at Chelsea, he replied: "Broadly speaking. Overall," before specifying when asked if it was directed towards fans or the press: "I love the fans and we are very content with the fans."

Injury & Disciplinary Crisis

Maresca also highlighted Chelsea's persistent fitness and suspension problems, remarking they had been missing star attacker Cole Palmer for much of the campaign, as well as being deprived of key midfielder Moises Caicedo to a three-match ban and striker Liam Delap to a couple of serious injuries.

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

"And this squad, no matter who is on the pitch, they are performing exceptionally. Today was 5 games in 12 days so undoubtedly when you see Cole Palmer playing, we said many times that he's our top player but we play almost all season minus our best player.

"We play 5 games in the Premier League minus Moises Caicedo. This is the reason why I'm so happy for the players and it's something that I would like people outside to recognize because the work from the players is fantastic."

Chelsea's triumph over Everton cemented their standing in fourth 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 Comments

It was not immediately clear who or what caused Maresca to describe the past 48 hours as the worst of his spell as Chelsea manager.

In that window, the coach had traveled back with his staff and players from his native Italy, conducted a session at Cobham, attended a pre-match news conference where he appeared at ease, and engineered a victory over an high-flying Everton side.

It was not obvious whether any specific media reports had irked him, if social media comments played a role, or if it was something more significant from inside the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca only sought to deny that it was an matter related to the club's fans, a section of which have still have yet to fully embrace him since his arrival from Leicester during July last year.