“He’s not necessarily a coach that’s trying to be best friends with everyone” - Chelsea star Noni Madueke on Enzo Maresca after public criticism

Chelsea winger Noni Madueke has responded to Enzo Maresca’s recent public criticism of his inconsistent performances. Madueke said he is pleased with Maresca’s bluntness and that the latter’s managerial approach is needed for a top club like Chelsea.

Madueke, who joined Chelsea from PSV Eindhoven in 2023, was a key player for the Blues under Mauricio Pochettino. In the ongoing season, the English winger has featured in all of Chelsea’s EPL games except the opening clash against Manchester City (August 18).

The 22-year-old has also been in the starting XI in all of the Blues' Premier League games except for the ones against City and Aston Villa. He was a used substitute in the match against Villa.

Madueke was included in the starting XI against Southampton on Wednesday (December 4) and responded with a goal and an assist in their 5-1 win. He could have added to the tally but missed several clear chances in the second half, which did not sit well with Enzo Maresca. The Italian manager said after the game (via Yardbarker):

“With Noni I have personal relations in terms of… he can do much more. He can do much more. In the moments where he scores or assists and he is happy, and he starts to drop a bit. And the reason he was not playing – because I don’t like the way he trained."

He added:

"He has to understand that he has to train well every day. He has to be ambitious: if he scores one, he has to go for a second one, a third one. He has to give more assists. But overall, he’s doing great."

Noni Madueke is, however, pleased with Maresca’s tough love and has responded (via The Evening Standard):

“He is honest and truthful. He tells the truth and he is a man you can trust. That’s all you want from a coach. He is not necessarily a coach that is trying to be best friends with everyone, but he is a coach that is straight with everyone and fair to everyone. That’s what you need at a top club like Chelsea.”

Noni Madueke says Chelsea are up for the Premier League title race

In another report, Madueke said Chelsea are up for the EPL title race this season. The Blues are in the second position in the standings, seven points behind league leaders Liverpool.

Despite showing signs of improvement, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca had insisted that they are not in the title race. Madueke, however, thinks otherwise. He said the focus is on themselves and not catching Liverpool. He said (via football.london):

"Of course we are up for it. Whether we are in it or not is a different question. However, we are taking every game as it comes. We are trying to progress and trying to get better. We are focusing on ourselves, really, and really trying to improve."

"We won 5-1 today, and in the dressing room we are very happy with that, but we also know that we can be a lot better. It's really focusing on us, focusing on training and trying to improve," he added.