Enzo Maresca is not talking. And the longer he stays silent, the louder the questions become.
The Chelsea boss stunned the football world on Saturday night when he claimed the previous 48 hours had been the worst of his time at Stamford Bridge. This, remember, came after a 2-0 win over Everton. A victory that ended a four-game winless run. A performance that moved Chelsea back into the top four.
So what on earth was he talking about?
Nobody knows. And Maresca is not about to enlighten us.
The original outburst
It all started innocently enough. A journalist asked Maresca about Malo Gusto's excellent performance against Everton. Standard stuff. Routine question.
Then the Italian dropped a bombshell.
"The last 48 hours have been the worst 48 hours since I joined the club because many people didn't support us."
The room fell silent. Reporters looked at each other, confused. What people? What support? What was he on about?
Pressed for clarification, Maresca repeated himself: "Worst 48 hours since I joined the club because people didn't support me and the team. In general."
When asked if he was referring to the fans, he was quick to distance himself from that interpretation.
"I love the fans and we are very happy with the fans."
So not the fans. But who then?
The wall of silence
Fast forward to Monday's press conference ahead of the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Cardiff. Every journalist in the room had one question on their mind. And Maresca was not having any of it.
"I already spoke about that. I have nothing to add. Cardiff tomorrow, please."
The reporters tried again. And again. And again. Each time, Maresca batted them away with growing impatience.
"I think I was quite clear. No more than that. My focus is on tomorrow's game and reaching the semi-final."
He was visibly irritated. This was a man who had something to say on Saturday and now regretted saying it. Or a man who knew exactly what he meant and was determined to let the message land without spelling it out.
Reading between the lines
The speculation is inevitable. If it is not the fans, then who is Maresca pointing the finger at?
Reports suggest his frustration may be directed at the Chelsea hierarchy. The Italian wanted a new centre-back in the summer transfer window. He did not get one. That is the kind of thing that festers.
There are also whispers about co-owner Behdad Eghbali, who is usually present at matches but was notably absent for the Everton game. Maresca typically runs through a post-match debrief with the executives before speaking to the media. Did that meeting happen this time? Nobody is saying.
What we do know is that Chelsea have dismissed any suggestion of a feud between the manager and the board. But then they would, wouldn't they?
The commitment question
When asked directly whether he remains committed to Chelsea, Maresca's answer was emphatic.
"Absolutely, yes."
He then offered a rather pointed observation about his language skills.
"I can speak Italian, Spanish very well, French well, and English more or less. I think when I want to say something I am quite clear. I already spoke after the game, I don't need to add more."
Translation: I said what I said. Deal with it.
A risky game
Here is the thing about Chelsea managers - they do not tend to last long when they start publicly criticising the people upstairs. Thomas Tuchel won the Champions League and still got the boot after clashing with the hierarchy. Graham Potter lasted seven months. Mauricio Pochettino did not even make it through a full season.
Maresca has credit in the bank after winning two trophies last season and getting Chelsea back into the Champions League. But that credit can evaporate quickly at Stamford Bridge.
If he is playing political games with the owners, he is playing with fire. This is not a club that tolerates managers going off-script.
What happens next?
Chelsea are fourth in the Premier League. They face Cardiff in the Carabao Cup quarter-final on Tuesday night, with a semi-final spot on the line. On paper, everything is fine.
But Maresca's bizarre outburst has cast a shadow over what should be a positive period. The questions will not go away just because he refuses to answer them. If anything, the silence makes everything worse.
Something happened in those 48 hours. Something that rattled the Chelsea boss enough to publicly vent his frustration. And until we find out what it was, the speculation will continue to swirl.
Enzo Maresca says the matter is finished. But this story? It is only just getting started.
