Chelsea winger Noni Madueke has come to the defence of manager Enzo Maresca after a season filled with scrutiny and pressure ended in silverware and Champions League qualification.

Speaking after Chelsea’s dominant 4-1 win over Real Betis in the Europa Conference League final, Madueke expressed confusion at the criticism Maresca has received from outside the club.

“The gaffer is top, he won at Leicester and he’s won here and also qualified for the UCL,” Madueke told reporters.

“I do not understand why there would be criticism of him.”

Maresca’s first season in charge at Stamford Bridge has been a rollercoaster, with the team initially struggling for consistency before eventually finishing strongly. The Italian not only delivered Chelsea’s first trophy since 2021 but also secured a top-four Premier League finish, defying the doubters who questioned his methods throughout the campaign.

Madueke believes the criticism was both unfair and unfounded — and insists it only served to motivate the team.
“The critics make the game. I’m not too worried about them. They spur you on. So, thank you to them,” he said, smiling.

The winger stopped short of echoing Maresca’s fiery post-match message, in which the Chelsea boss told critics to “eff off” after silencing the noise with an emphatic finish to the season. But it’s clear Madueke shares his manager’s sentiment — proud of the achievements, and puzzled by the negativity.

As Chelsea fans celebrated another European trophy and a return to Champions League football, Madueke’s backing of Maresca sends a strong message: the players believe in the manager. And after a season of transformation, maybe the critics should think twice.