Despite goals from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto restoring Chelsea to the league’s top four, the Italian manager delivered an unexpected and emotional message during his post-match press conference.

A Win That Didn’t Ease the Frustration

The result followed a draining period for Chelsea, coming shortly after a defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League that stretched their winless run to four matches. While the victory over Everton appeared to steady the ship, Maresca revealed that external criticism had weighed heavily on him and the squad.

“The players’ desire to learn and improve has been unbelievable,” he said. “That’s why I keep praising them. With all the problems we’ve had, they are still performing after a very complicated week.”

He then added pointedly: “Since I arrived here, the last 48 hours have been the worst because many people didn’t support us.”

“People Didn’t Support the Team”

When pressed to explain who he was referring to, Maresca declined to single out individuals or groups, responding only that it was “in general.” He was quick, however, to distance Chelsea supporters from the criticism.

“I love the fans,” he stressed. “We are very happy with the fans.”

The message suggested frustration with the broader narrative surrounding Chelsea’s recent performances rather than discontent within the club itself.

Injuries, Suspensions and a Young Squad

Maresca also used the moment to underline the scale of Chelsea’s challenges this season, pointing to long absences and suspensions involving some of his most important players.

He noted that the Blues have played large portions of the campaign without key figures such as Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo and Liam Delap, while defender Levi Colwill has been sidelined for the entire season.

“We’ve played 16 Premier League games,” Maresca explained. “Five without Moises, 11 without Cole, and almost all without Liam. Yet no matter who steps in, the squad has been fantastic.”

Calling for Perspective

The Chelsea boss reiterated that his team is a work in progress, built around the youngest squad in the Premier League. He urged observers to recognise the effort being put in behind the scenes rather than focusing solely on short-term results.

“Cole is our best player, everyone knows that,” he said. “But we’ve played most of the season without him. That’s why I want people outside the club to appreciate what these players are doing.”

A Project Still Ahead of Schedule

Maresca’s comments came despite a record that suggests steady progress. In his first season, he delivered trophies in the Club World Cup and Conference League, while also guiding Chelsea back into the Champions League places.

He has repeatedly warned against premature title talk, insisting that this Chelsea is different from the trophy-driven era under previous ownership. Instead, he has framed his role as a long-term rebuild, similar to the early phases of Jürgen Klopp at Liverpool or Mikel Arteta at Arsenal.

Message Sent, Questions Remain

It remains unclear exactly what triggered Maresca’s remarks, but the timing was telling. Within 48 hours, Chelsea returned from Italy, trained once at Cobham, faced the media, and ended a difficult run with a convincing league win.

Club sources have downplayed the comments as an emotional response after an intense period, noting that Maresca is communicating in a second or third language. Still, his words suggested a manager keen to defend his players and reshape expectati