Enzo Maresca tears into Chelsea player after Southampton win and calls out what he did in training

He may have scored for Chelsea in their 5-1 win over Southampton but winger Noni Madueke was given a quite remarkable post-match warning by manager Enzo Maresca.

Chelsea surged to second place in the Premier League with a dominant victory over Southampton at St. Mary’s. Goals from Axel Disasi, Christopher Nkunku, Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer, and Jadon Sancho secured a resounding 5-1 win, showcasing the team’s current red-hot form.

However, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca struck a serious tone during his post-match press conference, using the opportunity to send a clear message to Noni Madueke. The England international, who netted his first goal since September in the match, was warned about complacency and work ethic—areas Maresca insists the young winger must improve.

“Noni can do much more,” Maresca emphasized. “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 [against Aston Villa] is because I do not like the way he trained.

“He has to understand that he has to train every day well. 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. He can be much, much, much better.”

This isn’t the first time Maresca has publicly critiqued Madueke. Back in September, the former PSV Eindhoven winger welcomed his manager’s feedback, viewing it as a means to elevate his performance. Speaking to Chelsea’s official website, Madueke remarked, “I feel like it’s only a positive. He wants to push me and wants to make sure I get the best out of myself in every single training session.”

With the manager clearly challenging him to step up, Madueke will be eager to solidify his spot in the starting lineup. Chelsea fans will be watching closely to see if Maresca’s tough-love approach yields results, especially as the Blues prepare for a high-stakes clash with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

What do you think about Maresca’s comments? Does his tough approach help players like Madueke reach their full potential? Share your thoughts below.