After Chelsea's 2-0 victory over Everton, which put them fourth in the Premier League, Enzo Maresca said he'd had a rough couple of days.

The win at Stamford Bridge stopped a four-game winless streak. Yet, the manager criticised unnamed people for not backing him and the team. He did make clear he wasn't talking about the fans.

Cole Palmer scored, which seemed to lift the mood. However, Maresca still seemed upset, despite the win easing some pressure.

"The last two days have been tough because many people didn't support the team and me," he said. Generally speaking.

When asked if he meant the fans, he replied, I love the fans, and we're happy with them.

Maresca made this surprising statement after answering a question about Malo Gusto's performance. Gusto scored Chelsea's second goal.

Earlier, he had mentioned that winning was the only way to stop fans from complaining online. He also reflected on his 30 years in soccer, noting that people complain when you don't win.

It wasn't clear if his comments after the Everton game were aimed at online reactions or something else. However, he defended his players, who ended a tough run that included losses to Leeds and Atalanta, plus a goalless draw at Bournemouth.

The players put in a lot of effort. Reece (James) and Malo usually play as full-backs, but today they were midfielders, he said.

Their effort, willingness to learn, and open minds have been great. That's why I'm praising them. Even with several issues, they're doing well after a hard week.”

Palmer's goal was the highlight of the match. This year has been tough for Palmer, dealing with two injuries.

Wesley Fofana passed to Gusto, who then made an excellent pass. Palmer ran through the defence and scored past the goalkeeper.

"We're a better team with Cole," said Maresca. I really commend the players. We played 16 Premier League games, five without Moises Caicedo, 11 without Cole Palmer, and most without Liam Delap. Whoever plays is doing a great job.

We played almost the entire season without our best player. That's why I'm so happy for the players. I wish people on the outside could appreciate that.

Everton's boss, David Moyes, was disappointed with the loss, which ended his team's good run.

Maybe we played one of our best away games. "We've had some good results away from home," he said.

But we couldn't finish. We missed a couple of runners at times when they showed quality. We stayed close, and that's what we need to do.

Even after scoring in Chelsea's 2-0 victory over Everton, Cole Palmer isn't convinced he's back to his best. The 23-year-old's goal was his first in three months, helping the team move up to fourth place in the league. Although he seems to be over his injury problems, the England player isn't getting ahead of himself.

Chelsea back on track

Palmer, who has been dealing with injuries this season, played well against Everton at Stamford Bridge on Saturday and even showed flashes of the brilliance that fans have enjoyed for the last couple of years. But he's not letting the win go to his head.

Talking to BBC Match of the Day, he said, I wouldn't say I'm at my best just yet. I'm still dealing with an injury. I'm hoping it gets better, but I still have some work to do. It is improving because of the work I've been doing with the team's physios. It's just about taking it slow and not overdoing it. I'm just taking it one day at a time, hoping it gets better.”

England's manager, Thomas Tuchel, was in the stands watching Enzo Maresca's team, and Palmer is definitely on his radar for the 2026 World Cup. But Palmer is focusing on each match as it comes.

He said, To be honest, I haven't been looking too far ahead. I was injured for three months, so I just need to get back in shape. I know what I can do when I'm fully fit, so I hope I get there soon.

Maresca praises Palmer.

Maresca had said before that Palmer is Chelsea's best player. After the game, he didn't stray too far from that sentiment.

The game is never over. We had many chances; we missed some. But overall, I'm happy with the clean sheet and the effort, the coach said. We've said it before, we're a better team with Cole. It's unfortunate that he was out for a lot of games, but he's back now, and he'll definitely help us.

Maresca also praised Reece James and Malo Gusto, who scored and assisted against Everton.

He commented, They're good players, and good players can play anywhere. They can play as full-backs or midfielders. [Malo Gusto] took his chance, and he assisted Cole's goal, so I'm thrilled for Malo. Just because we can't win every game doesn't mean we're not ready to compete for titles. When you don't let the other team score, it's not just about one player; it's about the whole team.

After moving up the standings recently, Everton fans were hoping for a good result. But after a solid start, they struggled, especially after Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall got injured.

David Moyes told Sky Sports about the loss: I thought there were some good moments; we played pretty well today. We've played well away from home [this season], and we did well today. I know it's hard to say that after losing 2-0, but we did. Maybe we needed a bit of luck in the final third. They were clinical in the chances they got, and we weren't when we got close to their goal. That made the difference.

They did a lot of good things. We played well, but we didn't get the three points. You can say "well done" all you want, but we need to get those points.

What's next for Cole Palmer?

Chelsea has a busy schedule ahead, including a match against Cardiff City in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday and a Premier League game against Newcastle United next Saturday.

Will Palmer play in both games this week?

Maresca said, Right now, he can't.

He added that Palmer likely won't play against Cardiff.