Enzo Maresca’s comments on Saturday once again highlighted just how tough and demanding Chelsea’s management is.
Maresca described the two days leading up to the win against Everton as the worst 48 hours of his time at the club.
He did not want to go into details, but Chelsea have two losses and two draws heading into Saturday’s game, and Maresca could be under more scrutiny from both the outside and the outside when the team is winless.
Something triggered Maresca and his comment when responding to a question about how well Maro Gusto played against Everton is significant.
Maresca was criticized for using right-back Gusto as No. 10 and for not using Estevao after last Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat against Atalanta.
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Watch for free: Highlights of the Premier League match between Chelsea and Everton.
Maresca receives technical feedback from Chelsea’s football coaching team after every game, and when things aren’t going well, there’s a lot of commentary in the media.
Defeat feels like a crisis and despite beating Barcelona 3-0 last month, going four games without a win could feel like the end of the world.
When Chelsea aren’t winning, the scrutiny will always be tighter. Maresca has a good relationship with reporters who cover the club, but there is little he can do about what former players say or post on social media.
One theory is that Maresca made this statement to protect his players and create an “us against them” mentality.
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The Sunday Supplement takes a closer look at Enzo Maresca’s puzzling post-match comments after Chelsea’s 2-0 home win over Everton and how they could be the start of a story to come.
In any case, the situation is not hopeless for Chelsea. They sit fourth in the Premier League and a win against Cardiff City on Tuesday night will seal their place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals.
Maresca still has credit in the bank after winning two trophies in his first season and leading Chelsea back to the Champions League.
It was always Chelsea’s plan to reevaluate his position next summer, after two years at the club.
Summer reviews are standard practice for all clubs, but were not possible last summer as Chelsea were competing in the Club World Cup.
“Many people didn’t support me” – Maresca’s words
In the post-match press conference after Chelsea’s win over Everton, Maresca revealed he had had the “worst 48 hours” since joining the club.
“The last 48 hours have been the worst since I joined the club because not many people supported me and the team,” he said. “Generally.”
Asked if he was talking about the club’s supporters, he added: “I love the fans and we are very happy for them.”
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Enzo Maresca confirms his commitment to Chelsea after saying he had spent the ‘worst 48 hours’ at the club
“I have nothing to add” – Maresca refuses to explain his comments
Speaking live on Sky Sports ahead of Tuesday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final against Cardiff City, the Chelsea manager refused to comment on the outrage but insisted he remained fully committed to his role at Stamford Bridge.
“We’ve already talked about that. I have nothing to add. Tomorrow in Cardiff, please,” he said.
“This is a time when everyone can say what they think. I respect people’s opinions, your opinions, but I have nothing to add.
“I’ve already talked about it and I’ve been clear about it. There’s nothing more to it. My focus is on tomorrow’s game and getting to the semi-finals.”
Asked if he intended to contribute to the club, Maresca added: “Of course I do.”
