Chelsea boss Maresca has opened up a can of worms: "The last 48 hours have been the hardest since I joined the club."

It is rare for senior figures at any team to speak out, not just Chelsea, on such matters. And even if they did, it would be counter-productive, because statements of support are often perceived from the outside as the ‘dreaded vote of confidence’ before a decision ends up being taken days or weeks later to part ways with the manager concerned.

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca refused to explain the comments he made after beating Everton on Saturday; Maresca said the days before beating the Toffees 2-0 were the worst 48 hours as Chelsea boss; watch Cardiff vs Chelsea live on Sky Sports on Tuesday,

Enzo Maresca said Reece James' recent increased game time is partly because the defender himself is asking for more involvement despite the club's cautious load

Just a few weeks ago, many believed Enzo Maresca would be the manager to guide Chelsea to their first Premier League title in a decade. But just one extraordinary press conference has cast the Italian’s future at Stamford Bridge into uncertainty.

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has doubled down on his surprising rant following the club's Premier League win over Everton on Saturday.