“I was wrong to leave him out of our last match and it really affected us but I would repeat the same mistake. He’s going to be key for our victory against Ipswich Town” – This is according to Enzo Maresca as he confirms the return of a crucial Chelsea player for the upcoming match against Ipswich Town following a recent “technical decision.”
Noni Madueke appears poised to make his return to the Chelsea squad following his exclusion from the lineup on Boxing Day. The Blues are set to face Ipswich Town tonight at Portman Road, with kickoff scheduled for 7:45 pm on December 30th. A win in this match could see Enzo Maresca’s side climb back into second place in the Premier League standings. Despite a strong debut season at the helm, Maresca continues to temper expectations about Chelsea’s title prospects.
Madueke, who made headlines earlier this season with a stunning hat-trick in Chelsea’s 6-2 demolition of Wolves, has scored five goals so far. However, the 22-year-old winger was noticeably absent from the 20-man squad in Chelsea’s recent 2-1 defeat to Fulham. Explaining his decision, Maresca stated, “It’s simply a technical choice. Sometimes we have to make decisions, and that’s all there is to it.”
The young winger remains optimistic about being named in tonight’s squad, particularly since Maresca has hinted at a more positive stance regarding his inclusion. When asked about Madueke’s potential participation against Ipswich, the Chelsea manager confirmed, “Yes, absolutely. The level of competition needs to remain high, but this decision is no different from why Renato Veiga wasn’t included. It’s purely technical.”
In his last six appearances across all competitions, Madueke has made a strong impact, delivering four assists and scoring one goal. His prospects for a return to the lineup may also be enhanced by Pedro Neto’s lackluster performance against Fulham, as Maresca has shown little patience for substandard displays.
