Noni Madueke was a real protagonist in tonight’s Chelsea game against Servette.
The winger was a surprise exclusion from the starting lineup, but changed the game when he came on, lashing in the opening goal. This followed a series of really good showings in preseason, where he looked to have made the right wing his own.
Things have not gone in his favour since then, despite Mykhailo Mudryk’s poor form and the sudden freeze out of Raheem Sterling. The winger hasn’t started either of Maresca’s first two competitive games, and looks a long shot to start on Sunday, even though he scored today and Cole Palmer, one of his rivals on the right wing, went off limping.
Asked about it after the game, Maresca responded in his rather bluff and honest way which we’re still getting used to. Instead of weasel words, he made it very clear what he needed from the winger – better “consistency” in training. It sounds like the fun loving former PSV lad isn’t seen as currently having the right level of focus in day to day work.
Manager lays down the law to talented winger
We like this approach. We all know the tools Noni has, but we too have been frustrated before by some of his work on the pitch. We want him to reach the next level – let’s hope this tough treatment from Maresca helps him reach it. Certainly the former Leicester coach made it clear he wanted to keep the winger around. The conversation inevitably turned to transfers, and Maresca couldn’t rule one out – although he said that the winger was the type of player he liked to work with.
He will likely have to beat out Pedro Neto and Palmer for first team minutes – but the Conference League could be Noni’s competition this season.
How can you say Madueke was a “surprise” exclusion??? You can’t have paid much attention over the last year not to come to the same conclusion as the manager—Madueke is maddeningly inconsistent. And it’s not just match to match or training to training, but in the span of a few minutes in a single game he goes from fully locked in to a total passenger. It’s nowhere near good enough from him to deserve a starting spot and to suggest otherwise is either to be blind or to be looking to stir illegitimate controversy.