Chelsea winger Noni Madueke has come under fire from fans for his performance in the team’s 3-0 win against West Ham United on September 21.
Despite the comfortable victory, some supporters labeled Madueke as selfish, pointing to his lack of impact on the game.
Chelsea started strong with Nicolas Jackson opening the scoring just four minutes into the match, assisted by Jadon Sancho.
Jackson doubled his tally in the 18th minute after receiving a well-timed pass from Moisés Caicedo.
Cole Palmer secured the third goal shortly after halftime, with Jackson contributing another assist.
Fans were particularly critical of Madueke’s performance, highlighting instances where his decision-making could have been better, especially in terms of passing.
Many felt that Madueke missed several opportunities where a well-placed pass might have led to additional goals, potentially inflating Chelsea’s scoreline even further.
Despite Madueke’s recent success, including a hat-trick against Wolverhampton Wanderers in a previous match, his contribution against West Ham was minimal, with only one key pass recorded during the game.
As Chelsea celebrated their third Premier League win of the season, fan reactions on social media were mixed, with much of the attention focused on Madueke’s individual play.
The 21-year-old winger joined Chelsea on a seven-and-a-half-year deal worth approximately €35 million and has scored four goals in six appearances so far this season.
However, his inconsistent performances have sparked debate among fans, with some questioning his decision-making and teamwork on the field.
In addition to the criticism directed at Madueke, attention has also turned toward Chelsea’s future plans in the transfer market.
Head coach Enzo Maresca has been outlining his strategy for the upcoming January transfer window.
While Chelsea spent €238.5 million on 11 new players last summer and offloaded 11 players for €198 million, Maresca emphasized the need for more targeted signings moving forward.
He acknowledged that clubs like Manchester City and Arsenal are currently ahead of Chelsea in terms of squad strength and performance, highlighting the importance of making precise moves in the next window to close that gap.
Maresca also reflected on his own success since taking charge of the team, particularly noting that the victory against West Ham made him the first Chelsea manager since September 2016 to win all of his first three Premier League away matches.
This achievement comes as a positive milestone for both Maresca and the club, but it is clear that he remains focused on improving the squad to compete with the Premier League’s top teams.
Despite the criticisms of Madueke’s performance, Chelsea’s victory over West Ham has given the team a boost as they continue to climb up the Premier League table.
The winger’s inconsistency, however, remains a talking point among fans, and his future performances will likely be closely scrutinized as Chelsea look to maintain their winning form.
Meanwhile, Maresca’s comments about the January transfer window indicate that Chelsea’s leadership is already looking ahead, determined to make strategic moves to strengthen the team for the remainder of the season.