Chelsea winger Noni Madueke was absent from the matchday squad for the 2-1 defeat to Fulham on Boxing Day.
Asked about the player’s omission after the match, head coach Enzo Maresca gave a straightforward two-word reply:
“Technical decision.”
It means Madueke was not left out due to injury and it does suggest that Maresca has simply had enough of the 22-year-old’s attitude, considering that his place on the bench was taken by a youngster, Tyrique George. Fans on X have been left to speculate on what the future holds for Madueke:
Red flags from the manager
— 𝐃𝐞𝐧𝐳𝐨 (@Denzo_CFC) December 26, 2024
I knew it was an attitude thing…
This issue with noni and him needs to b resolved or sell the lad— Fortune Abiona (@2tricks) December 26, 2024
Of course I knew that was the case. He probably has started showing his usual attitude in training. Won't be surprised if same applies to Felix. Maresca is pushing his luck too far!
— Ogunwusi Elijah (@elijah_ogunwusi) December 26, 2024
Madueke’s never beating this attitude allegations, is he?
— Faithy (@FaithySW6) December 26, 2024
its over for madueke
— desire (@dgsire) December 26, 2024
I knew he was dropped because of his stinky attitude
— Naz (@M__Nazeer) December 26, 2024
Maresca is not impressed by Madueke’s training levels
Even after the England international scored and provided an assist against Southampton earlier his month, Maresca made a point that the forward still needs to improve in certain areas:
“With Noni, I have a personal relationship, in terms of he can do much more. In the moment that he starts to score or assist and is happy, he starts to drop a little bit. The reason he was not playing [against Aston Villa] is because I don’t like the way he trained. He has to understand that he has to train every day well, he has to be ambitious.”
Will this omission prompt a change in attitude from the Chelsea star?
Madueke is a very talented player and his absence arguably hurt the team against Fulham, with the Blues having fewer options off the bench to turn the tide of the game in the second half.
However, Maresca is clearly trying to make a point. It remains to be seen whether the message will get through to the player.
Find out who is in Chelsea’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here
