LONDON: Enzo Maresca gave a warning to all Chelsea players to improve their performance after Noni Madueke was dismissed.
Madueke, and summer signing Renato Veiga, were dropped from the squad for the defeat at Fulham.
Maresca revealed both players were not injured but were not on the list due to technical decisions. The Blues manager has criticized Madueke’s training phase twice this season.
As the former Leicester manager prepares to re-list Madueke and Veiga for the clash against Ipswich on Monday, he warned the players to improve their performances.
“There are times when we just make decisions, nothing more than that. Is he available for the Ipswich game? Yes, of course.
“Competition needs to be fiercer but not only for Noni Madueka, also for Renato Veiga who is not in the squad for the same reason.
“There was no other reason, it was just a technical decision,” said Maresca.
Madueke featured in 16 of his previous 17 Premier League games, scoring five goals and providing three assists – but failed to find the target after the win over Southampton.
His place at Stamford Bridge looked bright after Mykhailo Mudryk was suspended for doping.