Enzo Maresca clarifies Chelsea future days after 'worst 48 hours' rant

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Enzo Maresca insists he is ‘happy’ at Chelsea despite the Italian recently claiming he had to endure his ‘worst 48 hours’ at the club. The former Leicester boss launched into an extraordinary rant at the weekend claiming that he felt a lack of support - albeit stopped short of confirming who those comments were directed at.

Maresca was serenaded by Chelsea fans following the Londoners’ 3-1 win against Cardiff that saw them reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals. Asked about the reception he received, Maresca said: "I'm just happy, we're going to play another semifinal and I think it's what the fans deserve.

"It was a great moment, I appreciate, always thankful. 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.

"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.

"Every season there are teams that they lost against, you know, League Two or League One. You need to pay attention, you need to do the right things."

Asked if he had held any talks with Chelsea’s hierarchy following his weekend comments, Maresca added: "No, as I said yesterday [Monday], the day after Everton , I started to prepare Cardiff . Focus on Cardiff.

"Now I just said on the bus I will watch [Saturday's opponents] Newcastle and I didn't speak with anyone. I didn't speak, no it's OK.

"I always said that I've been happy since day one. So it's not that tonight I'm not happy. I'm happy. Now we have three hours to arrive to Cobham [Chelsea's training ground] and I will watch two Newcastle games.

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"There is no time. Time is for the players. For us as a staff, we're going to be focused on the next one, that is Newcastle, so we're going to prepare."

Chelsea have a slight wait to find out their semi-final opponents after finding a way beyond Cardiff. Manchester City host Brentford on Wednesday evening, with Newcastle going up against Fulham . Arsenal take on Crystal Palace in the final last-eight tie next week.

Maresca’s side are back on Saturday afternoon as they travel to Newcastle. The Blues currently sit fourth in the Premier League , albeit eight points behind leaders Arsenal.

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