Chelsea winger, Chukwunonso Madueke, has praised his former coach at PSV Eindhoven, Ruud van Nistelrooy, saying he learned some valuable lessons from the Manchester United and Premier League legend.
Van Nistelrooy arrived at Manchester United for a then British record fee of 19 million pounds during the 2001-2002 season, and the Dutchman notched 150 goals in 219 games during his time with the Red Devils, before sealing a move to Real Madrid in 2006.
The retired Netherlands international worked with Madueke in PSV’s U18 and U19 teams before making the step up to the first team last summer.
Madueke managed to hit the net 13 times and provided twelve assists in 39 appearances for the PSV Eindhoven teams under Van Nistelrooy’s tutelage.
The England U21 international of Nigerian descent praised Van Nistelrooy for being humble despite all his achievements as a player.
Madueke, a product of the Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur academies, returned to London in the January transfer window, signing a seven-and-a-half-year contract with Chelsea, with a club option for the 2030-2031 season.
“Ruud van Nistelrooy helped me out a lot – one thing is obviously in front of the goal. He’s a great player and a great coach as well and a great person, and that’s really just what I took from him,” Madueke told Sky Sports.
“If you went and spoke to him right now, you would not feel like you’re speaking to the legend Ruud van Nistelrooy, you’d just feel like you’re speaking to Ruud the man.”
Madueke was a non-playing substitute on Sunday afternoon as Chelsea were beaten 2-0 by his former employers Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.