'Was unbelievable' - Chelsea boss Pochettino singles out Madueke for praise after display v Tottenham

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has hailed Noni Madueke for his performance against Tottenham in a rescheduled Premier League fixture played at the Stamford Bridge on Thursday night.

The Anglo-Nigerian winger was handed his fifth consecutive start by the Argentine tactician and completed a Premier League game for the second consecutive game this season.

The England youth international was immense once again, giving Emerson Royal a run for his money and also put on a good shift defensively which must have impressed his manager who has demanded improvement on that part of his game.

He had 48 touches of the ball, completed 76% of his passes, made two key passes, completed five of the seven dribbles he attempted, won nine ground duels, made two clearances and won the two aerial duels he contested

Pochettino was left impressed by the 22-year-old and showered praises on him for his performance against their London rivals in his post match conference.

"Noni Madueke today was unbelievable," Pochettino was quoted as saying by Chelsea's official website.

'If you analyse him at the start of the season – before all the conversations and meetings, the clips and videos, things like this – he was always, like today, capable of doing a fantastic job with the ball.

'Of course, he is an offensive player but without the ball he is doing a fantastic job to help Alfie [Gilchrist] defend.

"That is what we need for the future, to build this competitive spirit."

Madueke is enjoying his best spell as Chelsea player since moving to the club from PSV last year, having recorded three goal involvements in his five Premier League games.

He will be hoping to continue his rich vein of form as the season draws to a close and become a vital player for the Blues next season.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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