Chelsea's 4-0 win over Southampton on Tuesday was overshadowed by a protest from fans against the club's owners, with Enzo Maresca urging supporters to show trust in the team despite the off-field turmoil.
The demonstration, organized by the BlueCo protest group, highlighted the growing unrest among Chelsea fans, who are unhappy with the direction the club is heading under its current ownership.
Despite the convincing win on the pitch, the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge was tense, with many fans making their feelings known about the club's hierarchy.
Enzo Maresca, who has been in charge of the team since Graham Potter's departure, acknowledged the fans' frustrations but called for patience and understanding.
'We understand the fans' concerns and we respect their right to protest,' Maresca said in a post-match interview.
'However, we need the fans to trust us and believe in what we are trying to achieve on the pitch.
'We are working hard to turn things around and we need the support of the fans to make that happen.'
The protest was the latest in a series of demonstrations against Chelsea's owners, who have faced criticism for their handling of the club since taking over.
Fans have expressed concerns about the club's transfer policy, the lack of investment in the squad, and the departure of key players.
Despite the challenges facing the club, Maresca remains optimistic about the future and believes that the team can still achieve its goals this season.
'We have a talented squad and we are capable of competing with the best teams in the league,' he said.
'We just need to focus on our game and take it one match at a time.
'If we can do that, I am confident that we can turn things around and make a strong finish to the season.'
The win over Southampton was a much-needed boost for Chelsea, who had been struggling for form in recent weeks.
The team's performance was impressive, with goals from several players, including a stunning strike from one of the team's young stars.
The victory lifted Chelsea up the table and gave the team a much-needed injection of confidence.
However, the club's owners will know that the protest is a sign of the deeper issues that need to be addressed if they are to win back the trust of the fans.
For now, Maresca and his team will focus on the next match, and try to build on the momentum from the win over Southampton.
But the pressure is on the club's owners to respond to the fans' concerns and take concrete steps to address the issues that are affecting the club.
Only time will tell if they can succeed in winning back the trust of the fans and restoring the club to its former glory.