The main talking points and moments missed from Chelsea's 2-0 win over Everton on Saturday afternoon with Enzo Maresca's press conference dominating the headlines post-match
07:00, 14 Dec 2025
Enzo Maresca
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Enzo Maresca during Chelsea's win against Everton on Saturday(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
On Friday afternoon, Enzo Maresca came across surprisingly upbeat given Chelsea's underwhelming form in recent weeks. Upbeat and positive in his answers as he looked ahead to the Blues' Premier League clash with Everton on Saturday.
Going into the match with the Toffees, Chelsea were in a bit of a rut. Nothing disastrous, but a four-match run without a win added pressure on Maresca and his players at Stamford Bridge.
It was by no means vintage, but it was very much 'job done' for Chelsea, who showed signs of their best version on Saturday. Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto both scored in the first-half to secure a much-needed three points. A sigh of relief from Maresca, who shortly after walked into a busy post-match press conference.
A couple of questions about his team's performance were met with your standard answers. Then the inevitable line of questioning on Palmer. So it was surprising that a question about Gusto sparked an extraordinary answer from the Chelsea boss.
"Yeah but again, it's the effort from the players," explained Maresca. "We said many times that Reece [James] and Malo, they are both full-backs and today they were both midfielders. So the effort, the open mind, the way they want to learn has been fantastic.
"This is the reason why I praise the players because with so many problems, they are doing very well after a complicated week. Since I joined the club, the last 48 hours have been the worst 48 hours since I joined the club because many people didn't support us.
"So I'm very happy for Malo in that moment that the effort from Malo and from the rest show that they are all there and they want to help this club."
What did he mean by receiving no support? "Worst 48 hours since I joined the club because people didn't support me and the team," the head coach responded.
People in general? "In general. In general. I love the fans and we are very happy with the fans."
It was bizarre. Chelsea had just won their first match since November 25. In many ways, it was fairly non-eventful. People would have remembered it for Palmer, scoring his first goal since mid-September, inspiring the Blues to victory at Stamford Bridge, but the head coach created headlines of his own.
Whether he means the media or someone inside the club, we do not yet know. Us journalists tried to push Maresca on that, but he would not say. He did, though, clarify it was not the supporters and used the time to praise them instead.
It left the press room stunned afterwards. Discussions were being had over whom he was referring to - and even the day after the comments, it remains unclear. Monday will see Maresca face the media for his pre-Cardiff City press conference, and that has been made all the more intriguing after the post-Everton rant.
Elsewhere, it was fantastic to see Palmer back in the goals. Eighty-seven days had passed since Palmer last found the back of the net for the Blues, with the 23-year-old missing the majority of that time with a groin injury. You would not have been able to tell, though, with the England international finishing so coolly in front of the Shed End.
Cole Palmer celebrates
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Cole Palmer celebrates scoring for Chelsea against Everton(Image: Chris Lee - Chelsea FC)
Everton manager David Moyes said post-match that as soon as he saw Palmer in that position, just inside his team's box, there was only ever going to be one result. Marc Cucurella knew that, too, with the Chelsea left-back throwing his arms in the air in celebration before Palmer had even struck the ball past Jordan Pickford.
"It meant a lot to score as well," Palmer said after the win. "I've been out for a while, probably the longest I've ever been out, so I was itching to get back out there with the team. So to start and to score was a nice feeling.
"We've obviously had a difficult few games, and it's harder than people think, a game every three days. It's a lot of travel and it's difficult, so to get the win is great."
Palmer made just his seventh appearance of the campaign in all competitions against Everton and Maresca was delighted with the impact his No.10 made. The Italian, though, was more interested in praising his teammates who have had to play without him for the majority of the season so far.
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"I said many times that with Cole we are a better team," the Chelsea boss said on Palmer. "I really praise the players and the squad because we played 16 Premier League games, five of them without Moises Caicedo, 11 of them without Cole Palmer, almost all of them without Liam Delap.
"And this squad, no matter who is playing, they are doing fantastic. Today was five games in 12 days so for sure when you see Cole Palmer there, we said many times that he's our best player but we play almost all season without our best player.
"We play five games in the Premier League without Moises Caicedo. This is the reason why I'm so happy for the players and it's something that I would like that from outside people can appreciate that because the effort from the players is fantastic."