Chelsea players should emulate Noni Madueke, Pochettino says،
LONDON — Mauricio Pochettino challenged his Chelsea players to follow the example set by once-disgraced winger Noni Madueke, who won and scored a late penalty against Crystal Palace in the team's 2-1 win Wednesday.
Madueke, who has struggled to gain playing time this season for Pochettino's side, replaced Christopher Nkunku in the 71st minute as the 21-year-old came off the bench to decide the match in Chelsea's favour.
– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (US)
“I want all the players when they are not involved [to] go against me,” Pochettino said. “Of course I like because from there we won the match. He scored the penalty, he got the penalty. We're not a charity, you know? We are a football club and you have to perform.
“Sometimes we have to be tough. I said we have to show reality, sometimes by putting [the player] in front of the mirror and say “go”, it is not the player who is going to play.
“We have an incredible group of players, very nice people, but they have to understand that it is about competing for Chelsea, not competing for another club. It is about winning. It is about lifting trophies.”
“I like [his reaction to being out of the team] because it showed that he was angry with me and disappointed in me for not playing [him] too much, but also because he is injured.
“But I think [Madueke said to himself] “Now I will show the coach that he can have confidence [in me].'”
Pochettino, who has been under pressure after a difficult start at Chelsea, has named the west London club's youngest starting XI in the Premier League – with an average age of 23 years and 21 days – for the match against Palace .
The match also marked the first time summer signing Nkunku started a Premier League match after returning from a knee injury that ruled him out of the first half of the campaign.
“I think we need him to be more involved but that’s normal,” Pochettino said. “His first 60 or 70 minutes, I think he was a little tired. He had a little pain after 45 minutes, but that's normal.
“He needs time, he needs to play but he will start to find himself [and] adapt to the team.”
Wednesday's result means Chelsea have now extended their league winning streak against Crystal Palace to 12 matches – a streak which dates back to October 2017, when Antonio Conte was in charge at Stamford Bridge.
First-half goals from Chelsea's Mykhailo Mudryk and Palace's Michael Olise looked to ensure the match would end in a draw, before Madueke's late penalty gave his side all three points.
“I'm so happy because the bench players have had a very good impact for the team and we are about to realize that this is what we want for the future to be consistent and sometimes when the player comes off the bench, we need the player to be at his best,” added Pochettino.
Chelsea, who moved up to 10th in the Premier League after Wednesday's victory, travel to face Luton Town at Kenilworth Road in their next match on November 30, while Palace host Brentford at Selhurst Park.
