Chelsea broke their five-game winless streak in the Premier League with goals from Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Cucurella, and Noni Madueke, securing all three points against Vitor Pereira’s team. ..Continue Reading
For a brief moment, it seemed Wolves might take something from the match after they equalized during first-half stoppage time.
However, Chelsea regained the lead in the 60th minute through Marc Cucurella, who marked his 100th league appearance with a goal, following excellent play by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Noni Madueke.
Just five minutes later, Madueke extended the lead to two goals by heading home from close range.
Madueke, who played 84 minutes before being substituted by academy product Tyrique George, scored his seventh goal of the season against a Wolves side sitting just above the relegation zone in 17th place.
Nevertheless, after the match, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca demanded that the England international improve his work rate.
“He can improve in the last third, but probably after he scored the goal he stopped playing,” Maresca said.
“This has to be one thing that we need to improve immediately. Never happy if you score one or two, always you have to go for more. After he scored the goal he stopped playing a little bit and it’s something that we need to improve.”
Maresca added: “We just try always to help them to improve. After the goal probably he was a little bit tired, but it’s the moment we need to go for more.”
This isn’t the first instance where Maresca has publicly called out Madueke.
Last month, the Italian coach discussed issues of complacency and work ethic regarding the 22-year-old winger when explaining his decision to omit Madueke from the squad for their win over Aston Villa.
“Noni can do much more. He can do much more,” he said. “The moment he starts to score or assist and is happy, he starts to drop a little bit and the reason why he was not playing is because I do not like the way he trained.”
Maresca added: “He has to understand that he has to train every day good. He has to be ambitious. He scored one tonight, he has to go for the second one and the third one. He has to give more assists.
Three weeks later and, after he was dropped for the match against Fulham, Maresca was once again asked why Madueke missed out.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, he said: “Noni Madueke was not even on the bench due to technical decision. No injury. Selection.”
After calling out flaws in his game, Madueke has previously welcomed criticism from Maresca.
Speaking to Chelsea’s official website in September, he said: “I feel like it’s only a positive. He wants to push me and wants to make sure I get the best out of myself in every single training session.”
Madueke added: “Top players train to their fullest every single day, so that’s for sure what I strive to be as well.”
