Mauricio Pochettino has insisted he’s happy that Noni Madueke was out to prove a point to him after scoring the winner in Chelsea’s 2-1 home win against Crystal Palace on Wednesday.
The winger was omitted from the starting XI against Palace, even though Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer were not available after being suspended.
Pochettino instead, preferred Ian Maatsen on the wing, and the move almost backfired before he subbed on Madueke late in the second period.
Chelsea took the lead through Mykhailo Mudryk, but were pegged back before half-time by Michael Olise’s goal, with just a couple of first-half minutes to go.
The game seemed headed for a draw until substitute, Madueke was fouled in the box by Eberechi Eze. The 21-year-old hit the net from the spot to secure all three points for Chelsea, who moved back into 10th with the result.
Madueke has not played that many games under Pochettino this season, but the Argentine insists his club are not a charity, and he’s happy with players who try to prove a point when they get the chance to.
According to Pochettino, Madueke was unhappy with him, but rather chose to prove himself on the pitch after coming on.
“I want all the players who are not involved to go at me,” explained Pochettino after the game.
“I like it because we won the game. He got the penalty and scored it. We are not a charity. We are a football club and we need to perform.
“We are here to try to help the players to perform. Sometimes we need to be tough and show the reality and put in front of them the mirror to show, ‘Come on, that is not the player that is going to perform’.
“We have an amazing group of players, very nice people. But to compete in Chelsea is not the same as another club. It’s about winning, to lift trophies, to respect the history of the club.
“How do you respect? Go in there and fight. The first thing is to have the right mentality and show respect to the history of the club.”
He continued: “He showed he was upset with me and was disappointed with me because he didn’t play too much, also because he was injured.
“I think he said, ‘Now I’m going to show the coach he can trust in me’. They [the players] need to show me I can trust.
“The mentality is really important. You cannot only play with your quality. If you don’t have the right mentality and the right approach every single day, in training and in games, it’s difficult to perform. You have to be ready to fight for yourself and the team, and it was so nice to receive this energy in the game and then at the end of the game.”