Noni Madueke is “buzzing” for Chelsea’s pre-season tour of America and believes it’s important they give fans over there the opportunity to see the Blues play live.
Chelsea announced Enzo Maresca as their new head coach on Monday afternoon, with the Italian signing a five year deal at Stamford Bridge.
Pre-season will be crucial for the 44-year-old as he gets to know the players and looks to get his ideas and philosophy across ahead of the new campaign.
Madueke buzzing for pre-season
Chelsea head out to America in late July and will have five matches in five different cities, with the Blues going up against Wrexham, Club America, Celtic, Real Madrid and Manchester City.
A new manager represents a clean slate for everyone and a chance for players to impress and stake their claim for a place in the team.
Madueke, who finished last season strongly is “buzzing” to head back to America again this summer, and is hoping he will stay fit having picked up a hamstring injury during last summer’s tour.
“I’m buzzing to go back on tour with Chelsea,” he told Chelsea’s website.
“I picked up an injury in pre-season, so I was just watching all the games, but god willing, I’ll be fit, I can’t wait, it’s going to be fun.
“The tour was important for all of us last year as we had a lot of new players, it was good to have some time to bond away from Cobham and aid our team camaraderie.”
Chelsea are a global club and have fans all over the world who rarely get to see the club play live, and Madueke believes it’s really important those fans are given the chance to see their heroes in action.
“It’s very important for us to get the chance to play there,” he added.
“I feel like soccer as they call it is growing every year out there, so I feel like it’s important to check in with our fanbases out there for sure.”
The pre-season tour kicks off a new era under Maresca, and for Chelsea’s sake it needs to be a successful one after all the turmoil and change over the last two years.
