Chelsea winger Noni Madueke has praised manager Enzo Maresca’s “honest and truthful” approach after the boss publicly called out his training levels.
Madueke, a regular starter this season, was unexpectedly benched for the win against Aston Villa but returned to the lineup in style, contributing a goal and an assist in Chelsea’s 5-1 triumph over Southampton. Despite the strong performance, Maresca highlighted Madueke’s need to improve his training intensity and sharpen his ruthlessness in front of goal.
Rather than taking offense, Madueke commended Maresca’s forthright style.
“He is honest and truthful,” Madueke said. “He tells the truth and is someone you can trust. That’s all you want from a coach. He’s not necessarily trying to be everyone’s best friend, but he’s straight and fair with everyone, which is what you need at a top club like Chelsea.”
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Madueke’s contributions helped lift Chelsea to second place in the Premier League, ahead of Arsenal on goal difference. Despite the strong position, the team has been cautious about declaring themselves title contenders.
“Of course, we are up for [the title race], but whether we’re in it or not is another question,” Madueke explained. “We’re taking it game by game, focusing on progression and improvement. After a 5-1 win, we’re happy, but we know we can still be a lot better. It’s about focusing on ourselves, training hard, and continuing to grow.”