Maresca ‘happy’ at Chelsea and ‘in love’ with squad

Enzo Maresca insists he is “happy” at Chelsea and “falling more in love with the players”.

In a strange post-match press conference following Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Everton – his team’s first win in five matches – the head coach said it had been his “worst 48 hours” at the club and referred to a lack of support, adding that he was not referring to Chelsea fans, but not explaining what he meant.

And on the eve of the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Cardiff, he refused to clarify what he meant.

He therefore faced more questions on the issue after the 3-1 win over the League One leaders.

Asked if he felt supported, Maresca said: “I have said many times in many press conferences – the support, they have always been there, knowing that any supporters in the world when you don’t win, they are not happy.

“So in some moments when you don’t win games, they have been not happy, but it’s normal. But overall, the fans have always been there.

“I just said that these are the kind of games that I fall in love even more with the players because you cannot imagine how easy it is to slip, to slide, because they are tricky games.”

Despite their recent sticky patch, Chelsea are fourth in the Premier League, in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup and very much in contention for a place in the last 16 of the Champions League.

“We are going in the right direction. Everything I do is because I want the best for everyone – the fans, players, everyone,” Maresca said.