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Trevoh Chalobah was annoyed that Noni Madueke "took" his goal against Wolves

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Trevoh Chalobah. (Deposit Photos)
Trevoh Chalobah. (Deposit Photos)

Noni Madueke has shared that his Chelsea teammate Trevoh Chalobah was initially annoyed with him for taking his goal against Wolves on Monday night.


Madueke scored Chelsea's third in a 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge, nodding in at the far post after Chalobah, who was making his first appearance for the Blues after being recalled early from his loan spell at Crystal Palace, had headed Cole Palmer's free-kick toward goal.


Chalobah's effort, however, appeared to be heading in on its own, and as the team celebrated, the pair could be seen exchanging words.


Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Madueke revealed what Chalobah had said to him.


"He was saying, ‘No way you took my goal, no way you took my goal!’, but I said, ‘Bro, you have to understand this is what they pay me to do!" said Madueke, whose goal was just his second in 14 Premier League games.


"It’s attacker’s instinct," he added. "I think I knew it was going over the line, and I said sorry to Trev after. An assist on his first game back is great for him, but I had to put it in the net."



There is, of course, no bad blood between the pair.


On Tuesday, Madueke shared a photo of him celebrating his goal against Wolves to Instagram, which Chalobah commented on with with a crossed fingers emoji.


Enzo Maresca critical of Madueke after Wolves display


While Noni Madueke found the net against Wolves, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca was not entirely pleased with his overall performance – and it’s not the first time.


Maresca has publicly criticised the 22-year-old on numerous occasions this season, including after the Blues' 5-1 win over Southampton in December.


Madueke scored in that game as well, but Maresca remarked afterward that the winger needs to "work more" and accused him of dropping his levels once he gets his name on the scoresheet.


Noni Madueke.
Noni Madueke. (Deposit Photos)

After the Wolves game, the Italian coach offered a nearly identical critique of Madueke's performance.


"After he scored the goal he stopped playing," Maresca said, according to BBC Sport. "This has to be one thing we need to improve immediately."


"Never happy if you score one or two – always you have to go for more," he explained. "We just try always to help them to improve. After the goal probably he was a little bit tired, but it's the moment we need to go for more."


Chelsea's win over Wolves saw the Blues jump back up into fourth place in the Premier League. They next take on Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on January 25.


Madueke not at fault over goal


Everything Chelsea says...


While some fans have criticized Noni Madueke online following his goal against Wolves, we believe he was right to head in Trevoh Chalobah's cross – no matter how frustrating it might have been for the defender.


Things happen quickly in football, and if a Wolves defender had somehow cleared the ball off the line, Madueke would likely have faced even harsher criticism.


That said, the goal should not overshadow what was another underwhelming performance from the former PSV Eindhoven man.

Johan Bakayoko.
Chelsea should consider Johan Bakayoko to replace Noni Madueke. (Deposit Photos)

Even before finding the net, Madueke looked lacklustre, and his contributions in the final third were far below the standard required.


It’s time for Enzo Maresca to take decisive action: either move Pedro Neto to his natural position on the right and start Jadon Sancho – who impressed after coming on against Wolves – on the left, or consider signing a replacement.


In our view, Madueke’s former PSV teammate Johan Bakayoko, who has already been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, would be a perfect fit and a notable upgrade on a player who has consistently struggled to deliver for Chelsea and appears resistant to feedback.

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