Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has resisted calls to elaborate on the omission of Noni Madueke from his squad against Fulham, calling the move a “technical decision”.
Striker Madueke was left out of Chelsea’s 0-0 draw with Everton on December 22 and was absent from the Premier League for the first time this season as his side suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to the Cottagers on Thursday had to accept at the last second.
“Sometimes we make some decisions and it’s nothing more than that,” Maresca responded when repeatedly pressed on the surprise conference call.
Noni Madueke POV. 🥇#CFC | #CHALLENGE pic.twitter.com/rQLF87wCUE
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 5, 2024
Noni Madueke “reacted very well”
Maresca first publicly called on Madueke to improve in August, saying the 22-year-old “needs to work harder” when he was substituted for the 4-3 win at Tottenham on December 8.
Three of Madueke’s six goals this season came in a 6-2 win at Wolves on August 25, and the England international also provided a goal and an assist in a 5-1 win over Southampton on December 4.
His manager had given Madueke 19 minutes in Chelsea’s last game, assisting a goal in a 3-0 home win over Aston Villa.
Asked how Madueke reacted to his earlier comments, Maresca, who preferred to name two goalkeepers on his bench against Fulham, said: “He reacted very well… there is nothing more.”
The 23rd player to score #PL Hat trick for Chelsea: Noni Madueke 🌟💙#CFC | #WOLK pic.twitter.com/LsfFN9wH4i
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 26, 2024
Liam Delap “fantastic”
Fulham scored in the 82nd and 95th minutes to hand Chelsea their first defeat in 13 games in all competitions and their first in the league since a 2-1 defeat to leaders Liverpool on October 20.
The second-placed Blues are 23 points ahead of second-bottom Ipswich Town, who they visit on Monday (7.45pm GMT) – and Maresca is a fan of Liam Delap, the Tractor Boys’ six-goal top scorer, who has worked with the 21-year-old. year-old striker during his time as manager of Manchester City.
“We have a bad feeling about the defeat,” said Maresca. “We know that the reality is not to lose a game every two months. It’s about how we react.
“Liam is a fantastic player for his age. He works hard on the ball and understands the game on the ball.
“Because of his age he can be an important player for England. We spent a year together… England are very lucky because they have a lot of good strikers.”
Ipswich agreed a deal with City in July worth up to £20 million for Delap, who has yet to play for England but played for his country at youth level and won the European Under-19 Championship in 2022.
