Enzo Maresca has once again displayed his no-nonsense approach, revealing that he dropped another Chelsea star for the Boxing Day defeat to Fulham. This time, manager Maresca left Portugal international Renato Veiga out of the squad, following a similar decision regarding winger Noni Madueke earlier in the season.
Maresca described both omissions as “technical” decisions, clarifying that neither player was injured but had failed to meet the standards expected by the manager. Veiga, a £12 million summer signing, had been a regular in the squad, making seven appearances this season. His absence from the matchday squad left Chelsea with a bench filled mainly with younger players.
Despite his decision, Maresca remained positive, expressing confidence that both players would respond well and be back in contention for Chelsea’s upcoming match against Ipswich. “For sure, the competition has to be higher, not only for Noni Madueke but also for Renato Veiga,” Maresca said. “There is no different reason for both decisions; it’s just a technical decision.”
This marks the second time Maresca has taken a tough stance with Madueke, as the manager previously warned the winger about his “consistency” in training back in August. Madueke was also dropped for the win against Aston Villa earlier this month after one poor training session, but responded by scoring in Chelsea’s 5-1 victory over Southampton. Maresca is now expecting the same level of reaction from both Madueke and Veiga.
“Sometimes we just take a decision, and it’s no more than that,” Maresca explained. “I expect the same response as last time from both of them. Madueke was fantastic, and he responded very well. I hope the same for these two.”
While Keenan Dewsbury-Hall was absent from the squad due to injury, Maresca confirmed that the decisions regarding Madueke and Veiga were based solely on performance and attitude.
Meanwhile, Cole Palmer acknowledged that the defeat to Fulham highlighted Chelsea’s ongoing development under Maresca. “It’s a good opportunity to learn, rest, recover, and play in three days,” Palmer said. “We knew we weren’t going to win every single game. It’s the manager’s first season, and we’re still learning. We’re not title contenders right now, but we’re growing as a team, and that’s what matters.”
