Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand didn’t hold back in his criticism of Chelsea winger Noni Madueke, who was visibly upset after being substituted during Chelsea’s recent clash with Arsenal.
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Madueke, who began the game at Stamford Bridge but was substituted shortly after Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli scored, chose to storm down the tunnel instead of taking his place on the bench.
Ferdinand was unimpressed with the young player’s reaction, seeing it as a disrespect to both teammates and club standards. Speaking on his show, Rio Ferdinand Presents, he argued that if he were managing, he’d impose a fine on Madueke.
Ferdinand noted how in his playing days, under Sir Alex Ferguson, such actions wouldn’t have been tolerated.
Owen Hargreaves, another Manchester United veteran, added that such behavior would never have been allowed in their time, recalling how Ferguson’s strict management style demanded respect and discipline from all players.
Ferdinand further critiqued Chelsea’s current management for not taking a stricter stance, calling the leniency toward Madueke “mad.” In his view, consistent discipline is crucial in maintaining team cohesion and respect.
Despite the criticism, Chelsea’s head coach Enzo Maresca downplayed the incident, suggesting that Madueke’s reaction was simply a display of his competitive spirit.
Maresca defended his decision, explaining that the substitution was tactical, aimed at injecting fresh energy into the squad by bringing on Mykhailo Mudryk to bolster the team’s attacking options.
Maresca acknowledged that players often react negatively to being substituted, especially when they feel they have more to contribute on the pitch. However, he maintained that this was a tactical adjustment and not a reflection on Madueke’s performance.
