Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea lift the mood by hitting Wolves for six

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It was perhaps typical of the chaos and unpredictability engulfing Chelsea that, less than 24 hours after an ill-advised social media post, Noni Madueke was given the freedom of Wolverhampton.
Madueke had said of the city in an Instagram post on Saturday night that “everything about this place is s—” before deleting it and then admitting he meant to place it on his private account.
He was jeered relentlessly throughout by the home supporters but departed Molineux with the match ball under his arm, and these are the mad moments which always seem to occur at Chelsea.
Madueke’s three goals in 18 second-half minutes helped to settle down an utterly absorbing contest, and perhaps he may now revisit his opinion of the West Midlands.
It is proving the ultimate crash course in all things Chelsea for Enzo Maresca. Against the backdrop of a collection of 40 players, a full XI ‘Bomb Squad’ plus substitutes, controversial sales of academy graduates and controversial posts on social media, Maresca is battling to instil his “idea”.
This was his first Premier League victory and a memorable return to this part of the country for the former West Brom midfielder.
Thomas Tuchel, Frank Lampard [in his second stint] and Mauricio Pochettino all failed to win at Molineux in recent times.
It was also the first time Chelsea have scored six goals since the demolition of Southampton in April 2022, when the goalscorers were Timo Werner, Mason Mount, Marcos Alonso and Kai Havertz. None of them are now at the club, underlining the huge turnover of playing staff.
There was still much for Maresca to ponder, but also more than enough room for encouragement.
Madueke’s response to the hostility was undeniably impressive, while there was also a hat-trick of assists and an exquisite goal from Cole Palmer.
João Félix, the £46.3 million signing from Atletico Madrid, produced a thunderous finish as a substitute on his second Chelsea debut. To rub salt into the wounds of Wolves, the assist for Felix’s goal came from their former star Pedro Neto.
Chelsea’s defence did appear susceptible to pressure, particularly in a nervy first half, but Maresca will have learned much from his three matches. He said: “It’s always good to win games and hopefully we can take some momentum from this.
“Nobody has asked me to challenge for the league or a Champions League spot, but just to improve the team. I feel lucky because of the squad and players but I don’t feel lucky that they didn’t ask me to compete for the Premier League.
“If you think that in the last three years we finished 12th and sixth, to win the league is not realistic. I think the process isn’t suddenly to compete with this kind of time, the difference is that Manchester City and Arsenal have been working with the same manager for years and we have been together for two months.”
Chelsea made a blistering start and were ahead after just 98 seconds when Nicolas Jackson headed home at the back post.
Yet Chelsea were nervy in defence and Wolves sensed it. Adjacent to Molineux is the Wolverhampton School Of Art and the equaliser was a masterwork to be proud of.
Rayan Ait-Nouri produced a wonderful snaking run from inside the Chelsea half, eluding the defence before then threading through a fine reverse pass to Matheus Cunha, who swept the ball past Robert Sánchez.
Wolves were dominant and Cunha almost provided the finishing touch to another exquisite build-up, but his shot was deflected on to the bar.
Then Palmer took centre stage. Before his brilliant piece of invention, he had just been booked for a foul and seemed to be growing frustrated with the direction of the match.
Yet the England star often operates in a different stratosphere to his team-mates and, spotting José Sá off his line, lobbed the ball into the net from 20 yards.
Wolves drew level again with a debut goal from forward Jorgen Strand Larsen, a menace to the Chelsea defence in the first half.
Madueke then scored three times from close-range, exposing some poor Wolves defending. By the time Félix thumped in Chelsea’s sixth, thousands of home fans had streamed out before the final whistle.
This is now a huge week for Wolves in the transfer window, after two defeats in a row and only one win from the past 13 matches.
The priorities are a centre-back and at least one winger but funds are not significant and it will require Wolves to box clever.
That frugal approach was underlined this weekend when Wolves missed out on defender Dara O’Shea to Ipswich over a difference in valuation [the initial fee was only £12 million].
Wolves’ budget could be swelled by sales, with Olympiacos monitoring Daniel Podence, but the pressure is on to make quality additions.
On the Chelsea performance…
“Today means a lot. I was really just trying to be clever and wait for the right moment. The system allows us to probe and probe and keep the possession higher up the pitch. Maybe in the first half it was a bit more end to end and then we gained control in the second half.”
On his hat-trick…
 “The first one was a bit lucky. Second one was all Cole Palmer, two brilliant passes, with the weight of pass I just had to step onto the ball and score. I’m made up for the hat-trick but more made up we won the game.”
On Cole Palmer assisting for each of his three 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. I like to get the ball in space, beat people and make things happen, so luckily today it worked.”
We can now add Madueke and Palmer to that list of deadly duos.
5 – There have now been 5 occasions of a player assisting each goal for a teammate’s hat-trick in the Premier League:1995 – Newell for Shearer v Coventry1995 – Collymore for Fowler v Arsenal2003 – Henry for Ljungberg v Sunderland2020 – Kane for Son v Southampton🆕2024 -… pic.twitter.com/MnM4b9TdTL
6 – Enzo Maresca is the first manager in Premier League history to see his team score six goals in his first away game in the competition. Elation. pic.twitter.com/IfM2TVf5FO
And that is that. Brilliant second-half performance from Chelsea who ripped Wolves apart after the break. 
Madueke was the headline act before the start and he’ll be the focus of attention after the final whistle, his 15-minute hat-trick could quite possibly change his infamous view on the city of Wolverhampton. 
The edge has been out of this game for at least the past 15 minutes. 
You strongly suspect that Wolves will need to buy a defender or two this week, they’ve been torn to shreds this second half. 
There will be eight minutes of added time. 
The last time Wolves conceded six was way back in 2007, when they lost 6-0 to Southampton.
No shock to see the home fans stream out of the stadium – there was promise in the first half, but nothing but pain in the second. 
Wolves have been ripped apart this half, they’ve been too open and Chelsea have picked them off at will. Not a bad first away match as manager for Maresca. 
Wolves 2 Chelsea 6
What a second half this has been for the visitors, this time it’s Felix who finishes well from Neto’s pull back. 
Lamina, who was possibly the best player on the pitch in the first-half, finds the back of the net with a fine shot through a crowd of players. BUT it’s ruled out for offside, the flag was up in a flash and it’s the right decision. 
This match has gone slightly flat now…it’s over as a contest. 
Here he is enjoying himself in the city…
Change for Chelsea: new man Felix comes on for Jackson. 
I think it’s safe to say this game is gone for Wolves who were, remember, the better side in the first 45. 
Medueke was the focus of the news before kick-off and he will be after the final whistle, this time for all the right reasons rather than a broadside at the Black Country. 
Wolves 2 Chelsea 5
Of course it’s Madueke with a hat-trick! 
I strongly suspect that Wolverhampton may have grown on the Chelsea player who has scored three in just 15 minutes, that bit of joy can affect how you view places…
This goal is very similar to his other two – Wolves lose the ball in midfield, Palmer finds Madueke on the overlap and he beats Jose Sa.
Chelsea have been clinical this half. For all the problems at the back and midfield, going forward they look sharp in attack. As I type that Palmer has another chance. 
Wolves are too open at the back, their full-backs don’t want to defend. 
Wolves 2 Chelsea 4
Palmer on the edge of the area, he again plays it to Madueke who this time doesn’t need a deflection to help him and he fires into the net. Brilliant finish but once again Wolves were all over the place at the back, it’s too easy for Chelsea. 
Chelsea are seeing more of the ball this half than they did in the first. Wolves need to get on the ball a bit more. 
Had to be Noni Madueke, didn’t it?
Booed relentlessly throughout, he’s just put Chelsea ahead for the third time.
To be brutally honest, it has been an impressive response from the winger.
Quite what he was thinking with that social media post, though, nobody knows.
Again poor defending from Wolves. Both backlines have looked brittle and I don’t think I am Nostradamus when I predict there will be more goals in this game. 
Wolves 2 Chelsea 3 
It had to be him, the man who’s not a big fan of Wolverhampton has put the visitors ahead once again. Madueke has looked like a threat all game and his shot takes a deflection off the right calf of  Ait-Nouri giving Sa in the Wolves goal no chance. 
Once again it came from a free-kick, Palmer finding Madueke on the right and Wolves were just half asleep at the back. 
They’re back under way at Molineux and Pedro Neto is coming on for Chelsea, the former Wolves man is replacing Mudryk. I imagine the home fans won’t be booing him, he’s already been given a round of applause while warming up. 
Absorbing first half at Molineux and one of the stand-out players has been Wolves forward Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Signed on an initial loan from Celta Vigo this summer, the Norwegian has been a frequent menace to the Chelsea defence and deserved the goal on his home debut on the stroke of half-time.
Much for Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca to ponder, though. He will have appreciated some of Chelsea’s forward play but there is far too much chaos and his team appear susceptible to pressure at the back.
In midfield they have also been overran and that’s a worry when you consider that two of those players, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, cost a cool £200m.
It would have been unfair on the hosts had they gone into the break behind, they’ve been the better side. Poor defending from both sides mean there have been four goals already. Expect more in the second 45. 
Wolves 2 Chelsea 2
Larsen sticks out a long leg and puts the ball into the back of the net for his first Wolves goal, lovely finish and what he and his side deserve. It came from a free-kick, Chelsea haven’t’ defended set pieces well today, with Toti heading across the six-yard box for the big Norwegian to level things once again. 
That was poor defending by Wolves who have been the better side. Had they been more clinical in attack and less brittle at the back they’d be 2-0 up here, rather than 2-1 down. 
Wolves 1 Chelsea 2
Against the run of play the visitors have the lead again. It’s fairly route one as Sanchez kicks deep for Jackson. The ball is played to Cole Palmer who finishes beautifully lobbing it over the keeper. 
Wolves have moved off the ball well and as I type once again work a good chance. Lemina is running the show in midfield, he is once again prominent before Doherty plays in Cunha whose shot is deflected wide. The hosts have been the better side this half. 
Neto is warming up on the touchline and the home fans applaud him. He was at WOlves for five years. 
98 – Nicolas Jackson’s opener after 98 seconds is Chelsea’s earliest Premier League goal since September 2017 against Stoke City (Álvaro Morata, 82 seconds). Blocks. pic.twitter.com/gsW8EeVpsp
Cunha likes playing Chelsea. That’s his fourth goal in two games against the west Londoners for the Brazilain after his hat-trick at Stamford Bridge in February.
Adjacent to Molineux is the Wolverhampton School Of Art and this equaliser was a masterwork to be proud of.
Rayan Ait-Nouri produced a wonderful snaking run from inside the Chelsea half, eluding the defence before then threading through a fine pass to Matheus Cunha.
The Brazilian’s finish was unerring and there was also time for some afters with Nicolas Jackson as he walked back to the centre-circle.
Would be surprised if this match finishes 11 versus 11.
Sa’s goalkick clears the Steve Bull Stand, it’s out of the ground! Remarkable. Not sure I’ve seen that before and everyone is loving it. 
Wolves 1 Chelsea 1 
They’ve deserved that and this goal is all down to Ait-Nouri who drives forward before playing in Cunha who finishes well. 
Cunha picks Caicedo’s pocket but having done the hard work he is unable to create anything from it. That’s the second time the Chelsea midfielder has lost possession. 
Corner for Chelsea on the left, it goes into the near post but Larsen heads clear. He’s having a busy game is the big No.9. 
This is end-to-end stuff, think there are more goals in this game. Larsen is playing well for the hosts, the Norwegian No.9 is combining well with Cunha. 
Jackson is into the penalty area and is seemingly through before Mosquera puts him off. The ball is then shipped to the other end and Wolves have the ball into the back of the net – Cunha scores! BUT the flag is off, not for the goalscorer, but for Larsen earlier on in the move. 
Caicedo slips and loses possession and Wolves’ midfield are on to him immediately, they work it forward and earn their second corner of the game. 
From the set-piece Cunha’s corner is headed clear. 
It’s a good game so far, end-to-end stuff.
Good work from Sanchez with Cunha barring down on him. Wolves are coming more and more into this game, they are now the one dominating possession. 
Wolves fans are booing Jackson and Cucurella as well as Medueke. They might as well just boo the entire Chelsea XI for good measure, so no one feels left out. 
Wolves had to score, Mosquera at the back post (a la Chelsea’s opener) but he heads wide. It’s from a corner and both sides are struggling to defend set pieces at the moment. 
Chelsea are looking good at the moment, slick one-touch passing and Wolves cannot get near them. 
Blistering start by Chelsea and they are ahead through Nicolas Jackson.
Matheus Cunha inadvertently headed Cole Palmer’s corner towards the back post and Jackson had a simple finish from close range.
Incidentally, the corner came after Noni Madueke – immediately booed by the Wolves fans for that social media post – forced a save from Jose Sa.
Feisty atmosphere, already.
With all the noise surrounding the club at the moment that is the ideal start for Chelsea. 
It’s no shock to hear the home fans ‘BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO’ Medueke every time he’s on the ball. 
Wolves 0 Chelsea 1
Just the start Chelsea wanted. The ball is delivered into the box from the corner, it’s flicked on and Jackson is there to hit it into the back of the net. 
The man of the moment Madueke has the first chance of the game, cutting in from the flank and forcing Sa into a decent save. Corner for the visitors. 
They’re under way in the Black Country, Wolves in their famous gold kit and Chelsea in their blue. 
And we’re moments away from kick-off. 
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“We’re here in the wonderful city of Wolverhampton,” is the introductory line from the stadium announcer, ahead of today’s teams.
A message to a certain Chelsea player, perhaps?
The squad arrive at Molineux for #WOLCHE 👋 pic.twitter.com/th6XTwvDy8
No Raheem Sterling at Molineux and his situation is clearly one to watch in the final week of the transfer window.
Sterling has been given the deep-freeze treatment by Chelsea and is available for transfer but, as always, it is not going to be straightforward.
The England international will carefully consider his options before making a decision as Chelsea continue to speak to clubs in an attempt to thrash out his future.
Crystal Palace have been linked with the 29 year old but his wages and contract length means it will be complicated.
There’s a brilliant column from my colleague Sam Wallace on the Sterling/Chelsea impasse, which you can read here.
Big week ahead for Wolves as they battle to bring in new signings before Friday’s transfer deadline.
The priorities are a centre-back and at least one winger but, as we reported last week, funds are not significant and it will require Wolves to box clever.
It’s certainly not a good look when Wolves are missing out on players like Dara O’Shea to Ipswich over a difference in valuation (the initial fee was only £12 million too).
Wolves’ budget could be swelled by sales, with Olympiacos monitoring Daniel Podence, but the next few days will certainly be interesting.
WOLVES XI TO FACE CHELSEA: Sa, Doherty, Ait-Nouri, Mosquera Lemina, Toti, Joao Gomes, Strand Larsen, Cunha, Strand Larsen, Bellegarde, Hwang Subs: Bentley, Bueno, Traore, Podence, Dawson, Gomes, Doyle, Sarabia, Guedes
Just one change from the side that lost 2-0 at Arsenal last week – Matheus Cunha comes in for Rodrigo Gomes who is on the bench.
CHELSEA XI TO FACE WOLVES: Sanchez, Cucurella, Colwill, Fofana, Caicedo, Fernandez, Mudryk, Madueke, Gusto, Palmer, Jackson. Subs: Jorgensen, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Neto, Felix, Nkunku, Dewsbury-Hall, Guiu, Veiga
Enzo Maresca makes two changes from the XI which lost 2-0 to Manchester City last Sunday.Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke  replace Christopher Nkunku and Romeo Lavia. Joao Felix and Pedro Neto start on the bench.
Always interesting when the Chelsea team news drops, and today at Molineux is no exception.
Former Wolves winger Pedro Neto and new £46.3m signing Joao Felix start on the bench but the inevitable focus will be on Chelsea winger Noni Madueke.
Last night Madueke called Wolverhampton ‘sh-t’ on his official Instagram, before deleting and admitting he meant to post on his private account.
He is assured of a hostile reception at Molineux and it will be intriguing to see how he responds.
Your Chelsea line-up to play Wolves! #CFC | #WOLCHE pic.twitter.com/gAfF62gnvT
Our first Molineux line-up of the 24/25 @premierleague season as we prepare to take on @ChelseaFC. 🐺📋 pic.twitter.com/GkKxqHf27l
I imagine that preparing for matches is never easy. Having to juggle managing all the huge egos in the dressing room, dealing with the trigger-happy owners, and the perennial pressure from the stands, it would be enough to make anyone question why they bother. But for Gary O’Neil getting his Wolves side ready for the visit of Chelsea is “pretty much impossible”.
That’s because on top of all the usual issues in preparing for yet another must-win-match (aren’t they all?) O’Neil hasn’t a clue as to who Chelsea will pick today. A lot has been said and written about the fact that the west Londoners have a bloated first-team squad, packed full of over 40 players. And for the Wolves manager it means he is unsure as to not only who Enzo Maresca will pick, but also how they’ll play.
“It’s pretty much impossible for me to predict the Chelsea line-up but, there are so many there,” O’Neil said.
“We know some that definitely won’t be in the team but figuring out what they’re going to do will be tough. We will try and give the best account of ourselves and try start the Premier League season at home with a win, which will be huge for us.”
Chelsea go into the match on the back of a 2-0 opening-day defeat at home to Manchester City, and another loss in the Midlands today would have some once again questioning the entire set up at Stamford Bridge.
The west Londoners have brought in 10 new players since new boss Maresca started, including former Wolves talisman Pedro Neto.
Neto faces a quick return to Molineux today, when he revisits Wolves with his new club after making his Premier League debut in their defeat to City last week.
O’Neil was interested to see whether Neto would be included to play in front of the fans that used to sing his name after he also appeared in Chelsea Europa Conference League qualifying victory over Servette on Thursday night.
He told a press conference: “It’ll be interesting to see what they do with him.
“Obviously he played yesterday, we’ll see whether he can go again on the weekend and start again on the Sunday.”
Stay here for all the team news, pre-match build up and action, with kick-off set for 2pm.