Chelsea winger Noni Madueke went from being the villain to the hero during Sunday’s emphatic 6-2 victory over Wolverhampton at Molineux. Madueke’s performance, highlighted by a hat-trick, came on the heels of a social media blunder that almost overshadowed his on-field achievements.
Hours before the match, Madueke found himself at the center of a controversy after posting a derogatory comment about Wolverhampton on Instagram. The 22-year-old mistakenly shared his location with the caption, “this place is s**t,” referencing the city’s industrial heritage, which includes coal mining and steel production. The post was quickly deleted, but not before it caught the attention of Wolverhampton fans and social media users.
Realizing his error, Madueke took to social media once again, this time to apologize. “Damn wrong Instagram account. You lot are too fast,” he wrote, acknowledging the gaffe. However, the damage had been done, and Madueke was met with boos from the Wolverhampton faithful as he took the field.
Despite the hostile reception, Madueke silenced his critics in the best way possible—by delivering a stellar performance on the pitch. The winger scored three goals, leading Chelsea to their first Premier League win under new manager Enzo Maresca. Madueke’s hat-trick was instrumental in Chelsea’s dominant display, and he later issued a heartfelt apology for his earlier mistake.
“I just want to apologize to everyone that I might have offended,” Madueke said after the match. “It is just a human mistake, an accident. It wasn’t meant to be out on my socials like that. I’m sure Wolverhampton is a nice town and I’m sorry.” Madueke also addressed the boos he received from the crowd, stating, “In terms of the boos, I expected it, but it is part of the game. You have to be able to play under that sort of pressure.”
Madueke’s goals were a testament to his skill and resilience, but he was quick to credit his teammate, Cole Palmer, for his role in the victory. Palmer, who has earned the nickname “Cold” for his composed finishing, provided all three assists for Madueke’s goals. “It is unbelievable. He is cold and I am fire, so it mixes well. He has the ability to always play a pass at the right time,” Madueke said of his teammate. “I like to get the ball in space, beat people, and make things happen, so luckily today it worked.”
The match was also a significant milestone for Chelsea’s new boss, Enzo Maresca, who secured his first Premier League win with the club. Reflecting on the victory, Madueke praised Maresca’s meticulous approach. “Everyone saw what he did at Leicester last year, he is mad about the details,” Madueke said, referencing Maresca’s success in leading Leicester to promotion. “Even in the first game against City there were some nice patterns of play, but we just couldn’t finish it off. It is a great day today, I am happy he has got his first Premier League win for Chelsea.”
Maresca, while pleased with the overall performance, was quick to point out areas for improvement. “In the first 10 minutes he had two chances and overall he was very good. The only thing I didn’t like from Noni is the free-kick he gave away before half-time, and we can avoid that, especially against a team who are good from set-pieces,” Maresca said. “Absolutely there are always things we can improve on. We can learn many things.”
Madueke’s hat-trick not only secured a vital win for Chelsea but also served as a redemption for the winger, who will be hoping to leave the controversy behind and continue his impressive form under Maresca’s guidance.
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