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Maresca wants more from the Chelsea winger (Picture: Getty)
Enzo Maresca has questioned Noni Madueke’s performances in training with the sole intention of ‘pushing’ the Chelsea star to another level this season.
Madueke has been the Blues’ first choice at right wing as part of a relatively settled attack for much of the campaign, starting 12 of their 14 Premier League games.
The England international was left out of the side last week in the 3-0 win over Aston Villa, returning with a goal and an assist in the 5-1 victory over Southampton on Wednesday night.
After the game, Maresca revealed he had dropped Madueke for the previous game because ‘he didn’t like the way he trained’.
It was not the first time the Chelsea head coach had questioned the winger’s performance levels in training, having made similar comments in August.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s trip to Tottenham, Maresca again clarified his comments were made with the intention of keeping Madueke on track, warning the moment he ‘he relaxes a little bit, it is wrong’.
‘Noni, overall he is working well since we started but sometimes he drops a little bit,’ Maresca told a press conference on Friday.
Southampton FC v Chelsea FC - Premier League
Madueke scored and assisted after being dropped against Villa (Picture: Getty)
‘He is not allowed to drop. In terms of numbers, he is doing fantastic. Off the ball when we ask him to defend and press, he is doing very well.
‘The reason I said this the other day is because I want the best for Noni and the way to do that is to push him. The moment he relaxes a little bit, it is wrong.’
Maresca added: ‘I try to be close to the players. When you want to be friends, when you say something wrong to your friend, he is not happy.
‘He needs to know that what you say is because you want to take care of him.’
Chelsea sit second in the table ahead of their trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, level on points with Arsenal and seven behind league leaders Liverpool.
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