Maresca Reveals Message to Madueke After Chelsea’s Penalty Award Against Club América

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca shed light on an intriguing moment during their 3-0 friendly victory over Club América. Shortly after Chelsea was awarded a penalty in the opening minutes, Maresca instructed Tosin Adarabioyo to relay a critical message to Noni Madueke.

The match, held on Thursday morning, saw Chelsea take an early lead when Christopher Nkunku converted a penalty just two minutes in. This opportunity arose after Romeo Lavia was fouled in the box barely a minute into the game. The incident highlighted Maresca’s clear stance on the team’s designated penalty taker, especially after a minor confusion involving Madueke.

Madueke, eager to take the initial penalty, was approached by Tosin, who conveyed Maresca’s directive that Nkunku was the designated shooter. Reflecting on this, Maresca stated in his post-match interview, “I decide the taker. This is the reason why Christopher shot first. Noni was close to shooting, but I told Tosin to inform Noni that Christopher has to shoot the penalty.”

Maresca acknowledged Madueke’s enthusiasm to score but emphasized the importance of adhering to his decisions on the field. “I can understand the desire to score,” he said. “But I am the guy that decides who shoots the penalty. And Noni knows the players. In this case, I’ve decided that Cristo is going to take the penalty now.”

Madueke later got his chance to score from the spot, ten minutes before the end of the match, when Nkunku was fouled in the box. This opportunity allowed the Anglo-Nigerian forward to contribute to the final scoreline without any disputes.

This clear communication and decision-making echo a similar approach by Maresca’s predecessor, Mauricio Pochettino. Last season, Pochettino publicly resolved a penalty-taking dispute involving Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer by designating Palmer as the primary taker. Maresca confirmed that Palmer remains the first-choice penalty taker. “So for sure he’s the taker. But at the moment, Cole is not here. So we have to decide for another one and Christopher is the one.”

Chelsea’s comprehensive win against the Mexican side marked their first preseason victory, setting a positive tone as they prepare for their next match against Manchester City at Ohio Stadium on Saturday.