Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca remarked that the run-up to Saturday's triumph against Everton was "the most challenging 48 hours" he has experienced at Stamford Bridge.
The 44-year-old delivered a somewhat cryptic statement in his after-game press conference even after securing a 2-0 win at home courtesy of finishes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.
Those points propelled Chelsea back into the Premier League's top four, perhaps lightening the atmosphere after a defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League that had extended the side's drought without a win to consecutive fixtures.
However, when asked about Gusto's contribution and general display, Maresca unexpectedly divulged his displeasure over the previous two days within the organization.
"The way the squad are eager to learn has been excellent and this is the explanation why I commend them - because with so many challenges, they are doing very well after a tricky week," he said.
"Since I joined the club, the last 48 hours have been the most difficult because many people failed to back us."
Pressed on the specifics, the ex- Leicester City boss elaborated: "Most difficult 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: "In general. Overall," before specifying when asked if it was aimed at supporters or the media: "I adore the fans and we are extremely content with the fans."
Maresca also highlighted Chelsea's ongoing fitness and disciplinary problems, remarking they had been without key forward Cole Palmer for much of the campaign, in addition to being deprived of key midfielder Moises Caicedo to a three-game ban and forward Liam Delap to a couple of serious injuries.
"I truly commend the players and the squad because we have played 16 Premier League games, five of them minus Moises Caicedo, eleven of them without Cole Palmer, nearly every one of them minus Liam Delap," he said.
"And this squad, no matter who is playing, they are performing fantastic. Today was five games in 12 days so undoubtedly when you see Cole Palmer there, we said many times that he's our finest player but we play the vast majority of the season without our best player.
"We play five 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 effort from the players is outstanding."
Chelsea's win over Everton strengthened their standing in fourth in the Premier League table, with a Carabao Cup quarter-final clash at Cardiff and a league trip to Newcastle scheduled in the coming days.
It was ambiguous who or what caused Maresca to label the past 48 hours as the most difficult of his tenure as Chelsea head coach.
In that window, the coach had traveled back with his backroom team and players from his native Italy, held a training session at Cobham, attended a pre-match news conference where he appeared relaxed, and secured a win over an high-flying Everton team.
It was hard to discern whether any specific press stories had unsettled him, if social media comments were a factor, or if it was something deeper from inside the club at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca only sought to deny that it was an matter related to the club's fans, some of whom have not yet fully warm to him since his appointment from Leicester during July 2024.
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