Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca praised Noni Madueke as “one of the best players” in his squad despite the winger having started only one of the last four Premier League games.
The 22-year-old was a second-half substitute in draws against Everton and Crystal Palace and was left out of the squad entirely for the defeat to Fulham on Boxing Day, with Maresca previously citing a “technical decision” for the omission.
Despite having already matched last season’s tally of five goals in the league, there has been public criticism from the head coach, who also left the former PSV Eindhoven player on the bench for December’s win over Aston Villa.
Following a 5-1 victory over Southampton on December 4 in which Madueke scored and assisted in the first half, Maresca said he had been dropped for the Villa game because he “did not like the way he trained” and challenged the England international to be more “ambitious.”
He was not in the squad for Saturday’s 5-0 FA Cup win over Morecambe having sat out part of training on Friday with illness, but is set to return for Bournemouth’s visit to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.
“I consider Noni one of our best players, to be honest,” said Maresca. “But because of that we want our best players to behave in the right way always. Not switch off, not some days they can drop, no no no.
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“He’s doing very good with us, knowing that during a season it’s normal that for some moments players are not a hundred per cent.
“But it’s not just about Noni. It’s about all the players.”
Maresca reiterated that he does not believe 18-year-old Josh Acheampong is the answer to the team’s defensive injury woes despite an impressive Premier League debut in the recent draw with Crystal Palace.
Chelsea started with two academy graduates in their back four for the 1-1 stalemate at Selhurst Park, with Levi Colwill – whose importance to the team in central defence has been magnified by long-term injury to Wesley Fofana – alongside him.
Benoit Badiashile, considered the only other defender in the squad with the same profile as Fofana, is also likely to be out until February, potentially meaning more opportunities for Acheampong starting with Bournemouth.
“For the young players, I think they need the right time to play games, (but) not always,” said Maresca. “But it could be that he’s going start (on Tuesday).
“They are from the academy. The other day was a fantastic feeling to see both of them (Acheampong and Colwill) against Palace, but we have more central defenders than can play there. Game by game we will decide.”
Chelsea have been linked with a move for Palace defender Marc Guehi, another of their academy products, whilst there is also the option of recalling Trevoh Chalobah from his loan in south London, though Maresca would not be drawn on either player.
One defender that is set to leave is Portugal international Renato Veiga who is the subject of a bid from Borussia Dortmund.
