Enzo Maresca is backing "fantastic" Noni Madueke to bounce back after being dropped for the fourth time in six Premier League games against Fulham on Boxing Day.
Madueke had been a nailed-on starter for Chelsea during the opening stages of the season, starting 11 of their first 12 top flight games. Maresca, however, opted to bench the England international against Aston Villa at the start of December, citing his poor performances in training. Since then, Madueke has started just two of five Premier League games, and was completely left out of Maresca's matchday squad for Thursday's defeat to Fulham.
The Italian coach has also criticised the 22-year-old winger further, accusing him of dropping his levels once he scores and saying he "can do much more."
After the loss to Fulham, Maresca fielded multiple questions about Madueke, including why he chose to omit him on the day, which he called a "technical decision."
"Sometimes we just take a decision and it's no more than that," he said. Maresca was also asked if he was pleased with Madueke's response after being dropped against Villa earlier this month. "Very good, fantastic and he responded very good at that time so there is no more than that," he explained. Asked if he expects the same response this time, Maresca said: "I expect the same this time, yes, absolutely."
Is Enzo Maresca sending a message to Noni Madueke?
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Maresca may have called Madueke's omission against Fulham a "technical decision," but really it appears to be him taking drastic action after weeks of unheeded warnings.
Frankly put, Madueke's displays have been sporadic at best this season. He's shown glimpses of brilliance, most notably against Wolverhampton Wanderers when he scored a hat-trick, but he's also been greedy at times, and has shown himself to have a bad attitude when it's not going right for him.
After being substituted against Arsenal, for example, he chose to storm down the tunnel, which England legend Rio Ferdinand called "disrespectful."
What Madueke is like on the training ground, only those around Cobham everyday will know, but Maresca has made it clear he's not always been happy with what he's seen.
Madueke clearly has the talent, but his failure to take Maresca's criticism constructively has led to a message he can't ignore: Do better, or don't play at all.
The choice is now his.
If he takes the message to heart, he could become a cornerstone for Chelsea in the years ahead. If not, there are others waiting in the wings, ready to take his place.
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