Noni Madueke has no doubts that Chelsea’s young squad would be “up for” a Premier League title race - but insists they are not getting distracted by thoughts of reeling in Liverpool just yet.
Both Enzo Maresca and his players have been steadfast in insisting it is too soon for the Blues to challenge for the title, despite their superb start to the season.
Maresca’s side are the division’s top-scorers and climbed to second after hammering Southampton 5-1 on Wednesday night.
That result, coupled with Liverpool’s thrilling 3-3 draw at Newcastle has seen the gap to the runaway leaders close to seven points heading into the busy festive period and Maresca’s charges appear to be building strong momentum at just the right time. Madueke, however, says all focus is on themselves, and not catching Arne Slot’s men.
“Of course we are up for it,” Madueke said when asked about the title race. “[But] whether we are in it or not is a different question.
“However, we are taking every game as it comes. We are trying to progress and trying to get better. We are focusing on ourselves, really, and really trying to improve.
“We won 5-1 [at Southampton] and in the dressing room we are very happy with that, but we also know that we can be a lot better. It’s really focusing on us, focusing on training and trying to improve.”
Madueke scored one and set-up another in the thrashing of the Saints, on his return to the lineup after being left out of Sunday’s win over Aston Villa.
Maresca revealed that he had taken the decision to axe Madueke for that game after growing frustrated at the winger’s performances in training, and urged him to be “more ambitious”.
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Still, the Italian insisted he is pleased with the 22-year-old’s progress this season and Madueke himself praised the manager’s tough love approach.
“He is honest and truthful,” he added. “He tells the truth and he is a man you can trust. That’s all you want from a coach.
“He is not necessarily a coach that is trying to be best friends with everyone, but he is a coach that is straight with everyone and fair to everyone. That’s what you need at a top club like Chelsea.”