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Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca admitted he had endured the most difficult 48 hours of his tenure at Stamford Bridge despite his side’s 2-0 Premier League victory over Everton on Saturday, citing a lack of backing from outside the club.
The win lifted Chelsea into fourth place and brought an end to a four-match winless run across all competitions, with Cole Palmer scoring on his first home start since August. However, Maresca made clear after the match that the result had not erased his frustration over what he described as insufficient support during a challenging period.
Speaking after the game, Maresca said the previous two days had been the hardest since he arrived at Chelsea, explaining that many people had failed to back both him and the team. When asked whether his comments were aimed at supporters, the Italian was quick to clarify that he held no grievances with the fans, insisting he appreciated their backing.
The comments came as Maresca was initially discussing the performance of Malo Gusto, who netted Chelsea’s second goal, before broadening his remarks to reference criticism from unspecified quarters.
On Friday, Maresca had acknowledged during his pre-match press conference that criticism was inevitable in modern football, particularly online, stressing that only winning matches could silence complaints. Drawing on his long experience in the game, he said results ultimately dictate public opinion.
Despite the recent scrutiny, Maresca strongly defended his players and highlighted the challenges they have faced this season, particularly through injuries. Chelsea’s recent poor run had included defeats away to Leeds and Atalanta, as well as a goalless draw against Bournemouth.
Palmer, who had been sidelined for two months with groin and toe problems, missed Tuesday’s Champions League loss to Atalanta but returned to the starting line-up against Everton. Maresca underlined the England international’s importance, describing Chelsea as a stronger side whenever Palmer is available.
The Chelsea boss also pointed to the prolonged absences of key players, noting that the team had played large stretches of the season without Palmer, Moises Caicedo and Liam Delap. He praised the squad for continuing to perform regardless of who was selected, saying their efforts deserved greater recognition from those outside the club.
