Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has shared an early piece of team news ahead of this week’s match in Europe.
Chelsea continue their campaign in the Conference League group stages on Thursday with a long trip to Kazakstan to face Astana. Incidentally, the match has an usual 3:30pm kick-off time.
The Blues are on a five-game winning streak across all competitions since returning from the November international break, so hopefully they extend that run tomorrow afternoon.
Noni Madueke of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Chelsea FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 8, 202...
Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Enzo Maresca confirms Noni Madueke won’t be in Chelsea’s travelling squad
Enzo Maresca, the Chelsea manager, held a pre-match press conference for Astana on Wednesday morning, where he shared that plenty of first-team stars wouldn’t be making the long trip to Kazakhstan.
Noni Madueke, 22, is a senior player that will be left back at Cobham to train this week.
When asked if Madueke is travelling for the Astana tie, Maresca said via Chelsea’s official YouTube channel: “He is going to stay here.”
Madueke has a great chance to impress for Chelsea in Sunday’s Premier League match at home to Brentford after teammate Pedro Neto picked up a one-game suspension. Now, Madueke has all-but confirmed the Englishman isn’t playing versus Astana because he’ll be involved against Brentford.
The right-winger has real stiff competition for a starting position. In fact, Madueke and Neto are now directly battling over the role on the right of attack.
MORE CHELSEA STORIES
Noni Madueke must seize Brentford chance
While Madueke may be relieved that he doesn’t have the long trip in the Conference League on Thursday, the pressure is certainly on him to deliver against Brentford.
The England international has been a key player for the Blues this campaign. In fact, he’s started 12 of the club’s 15 Premier League games. However, the fact that he’s only started one of the previous three league matches suggests he’s lost his starting position to Neto.
Maresca claims Chelsea star Madueke is doing “fantastic”, but he’s warned him this season about consistency.
Related Posts