Enzo Maresca has emphasized that winger Noni Madueke “needs to work harder” to earn a regular spot in Chelsea’s lineup, despite his contribution in the 5-1 victory over Southampton.
The England international had scored just once since August and was omitted from the starting XI against Aston Villa last weekend.
Although Madueke netted an impressive angled goal at St Mary’s and provided an assist for Christopher Nkunku, Maresca insists there is still room for improvement.
He said: “Noni can do much more. He can do much more. The moment he starts to score or assist and is happy, he starts to drop a little bit and the reason why he was not playing is because I do not like the way he trained.
“He has to understand that he has to train every day good. He has to be ambitious. He scored one tonight, he has to go for the second one and the third one. He has to give more assists.
“But overall, he is doing great, he is doing fantastic. He is doing even better in terms of numbers. Noni has to understand he has to work more because he can be much, much, much better.”
Madueke, Joao Felix, Cole Palmer and Nkunku were the attacking quartet for Chelsea at Southampton – with Maresca making seven changes from the XI which beat Villa.
That saw Pedro Neto, Nicolas Jackson and Jadon Sancho among the substitutes – highlighting the depth in Maresca’s squad.
The manager said: “There are players in behind that are ready. We have four wingers that are all very good.
“Pedro and Noni for the right side, Jadon and Misha [Mykhailo Mudryk] for the left side and in the moment one of them drops for whatever reason, there is one in behind that is ready.
“Noni is not allowed to drop because Pedro is there and doing fantastic. If Pedro drops then Noni is there.
“This is what they have to understand if we want to be there or be close for something important.”
Chelsea’s victory maintains their second-place position, trailing leaders Liverpool by seven points, ahead of their upcoming trip to Tottenham on Sunday.