The Boss Enzo Maresca Calls Pre-Match Time as The 'Most Difficult 48 Hours' at the Club

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca remarked that the run-up to Saturday's triumph against Everton was "the toughest 48 hours" since his arrival with the London club.

The Italian offered a somewhat cryptic message in his after-game press conference even after notching a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge courtesy of strikes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.

Those crucial points sent Chelsea back into the Premier League's top four, perhaps lightening the mood after a defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League that had extended the team's winless run to four fixtures.

However, when questioned about Gusto's contribution and general display, Maresca surprisingly divulged his frustration over the previous 48-hour period within the organization.

"The way the lads want to learn has been excellent and this is the explanation why I commend them - because with a host of challenges, they are performing admirably after a complicated week," he said.

"Since I joined the club, the past 48 hours have been the worst because many people didn't support us."

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

When asked if he was referring to people internally at Chelsea, he answered: "In general. Overall," before specifying when asked if it was aimed at supporters or the press: "I love the fans and we are extremely pleased with the fans."

Injury and Suspension Crisis

Maresca also drew attention to Chelsea's ongoing fitness and disciplinary issues, remarking they had been without star attacker Cole Palmer for much of the campaign, as well as being deprived of linchpin Moises Caicedo to a three-game ban and forward Liam Delap to a couple of serious injuries.

"I really commend the players and the squad because we played 16 Premier League games, five of them minus Moises Caicedo, 11 of them without 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 certainly when you see Cole Palmer there, we have said many times that he's our finest player but we play almost all season minus our best 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 recognize because the work from the players is fantastic."

Chelsea's win over Everton strengthened their standing in fourth 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 unclear who or what prompted Maresca to label the past 48 hours as the worst of his tenure as Chelsea manager.

In that window, the coach had returned with his staff 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 secured a win over an in-form Everton team.

It was hard to discern whether any particular press stories had irked him, if online comments were a factor, or if it was something more significant from within the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge.

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