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Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca refused requests to explain the omission of Noni Madueke from his squad against Fulham, calling the move a “technical decision”.
Striker Madueke was sent off for Chelsea’s 0-0 draw with Everton on December 22 and was left out entirely for the first time in the Premier League this season as his side suffered a last-gasp 2-1 defeat at home to the Cottagers on Thursday.
“Sometimes we make some decisions and it’s nothing more than that,” Maresca replied when pressed repeatedly on the sudden selection call.
Noni Madueke POV. 🥇#CFC | #STRAIN pic.twitter.com/rQLF87wCUE
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 5, 2024
Noni Madueke ‘reacted very well’
Maresca first publicly told Madueke to improve in August and said the 22-year-old “has to work harder” when he was sent off 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 25 August, and the England international also scored and assisted in a 5-1 win against Southampton on 4 December.
His manager gave Madueke 19 minutes in Chelsea’s previous game, when he set up the goal in a 3-0 home win against Aston Villa.
Asked how Madueke had reacted to his previous statements, Maresca, who preferred to name two goalkeepers on his bench against Fulham, said: “He answered very well… nothing more than that.”
23. the player who scored a #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, as well as their first defeat in the league since a 2–1 defeat at leaders Liverpool on 20 October.
The second-placed Blues have a 23-point lead over second-placed Ipswich Town, who visit on Monday (19.45 GMT) – and Maresca is a fan of Liam Delap, the Tractor Boys’ top scorer with six goals, having worked with the 21-year-old striker when he was coach of Manchester City.
“We have a bad feeling about the defeat,” said Maresca. “We know that the reality is not losing one game every two months. It’s about how we react.
“Liam is a fantastic player for his age. He works hard with the ball and understands the ball game.
“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.”
In July, Ipswich agreed a deal worth up to £20m with City for Delap, who is yet to win an England cap but has played for his country at youth level, winning Euro 2022 under-19s.
