By TAMARA PRENN
Published: 03:13 EST, 5 December 2024 | Updated: 03:21 EST, 5 December 2024
Enzo Maresca has called upon Noni Madueke to live up to his scoring potential on the heels of returning the winger to his starting XI to face Southampton.
The England international had been a regular feature among Chelsea's Premier League starters after a confident start to the season, but was dropped for Sunday's test against Aston Villa.
Madueke was brought on in the second-half of the 3-0 victory at Stamford Bridge, and later returned to the line-up on the south coast to take part in the Blues' 5-1 drubbing of the home side.
The 22-year-old both scored and assisted as the visitors ran riot at St Mary's, helping burnish their title-chasing credentials as they moved into second place, seven points behind league leaders Liverpool.
But despite a commanding showing from his player, Maresca was keen after the whistle to keep Madueke ambitious for more - and remind the starlet of the importance of maintaining high standards both on the pitch and in training.
'With Noni, I have a personal relationship, in terms of he can do much more,' Maresca said. 'In the moment that he starts to score or assist and is happy, he starts to drop a little bit.
Enzo Maresca was called upon Noni Madueke to continue to push for more despite his fine form
The England international found his way onto the scoresheet yet against on Wednesday evening
The Blues cruised to a 5-1 victory on the road as rock-bottom Southampton imploded yet again
'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 good, he has to be ambitious.
'If he scores one tonight, he has to go for the second one, the third one. He has to be ambitious, to give more assists.
'But overall, he's doing great, he's doing fantastic,' the head coach added. 'He's doing even better in terms of numbers, in assists and goals. But Noni has to understand he has to work more because he can be much, much, much better.'
Madueke has registered five goals and a further two assists in his 13 Premier League outings this season, but such is the depth of Chelsea's young and hungry squad that an assured starting berth cannot be taken for granted.
After a fine showing in last week's UEFA Conference League match against Heidenheim, Jadon Sancho was promoted to first-team duties against Villa.
Although brought on as a substitute against Southampton, the former Manchester United player scored an eye-catching fifth versus Russell Martin's beleaguered side, adding to Maresca's selection quandry ahead of facing Tottenham on Sunday afternoon.
Madueke was accused of not meeting Maresca's standards in training before facing Aston Villa
The improvement of Jadon Sancho (right) as well as the rip-roaring form of Chelsea's other forwards mean no starter's place is assured
Travelling fans on Wednesday evening were delighted by their team's showing, chanting 'we've got our Chelsea back' in a tribute Maresca acknowledged from the dug-out.
Although the manager has been keen to play down suggestions that the side may be in a title race with established contenders like Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City, Madueke - Prime Video's Man of the Match - did admit that fans were within their rights to feel 'excited' by the team.
'They can get excited, for sure,' Madueke said. 'I came to Chelsea a couple of years ago and it wasn't always like this.
'They should be really excited knowing we are not taking our foot off the gas and taking the games as they come.'
Enzo MarescaChelsea