Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is likely to have his squad cut to convince Mykhaylo Mudryk to stay at the club after one of his former managers told him to leave the club. The Blues winger has been taking a step forward this season and has earned the applause of the fans. And experts alike, but Mudryk has been asked to look for another club where he feels more comfortable after struggling to establish himself in London.
Mudryk has been plagued by inflated expectations since his £88m transfer from Shakhtar Donetsk in January this year. The 22-year-old has scored two goals in 28 appearances, also with two assists for the club.
Both goals were scored this season under Pochettino, with the Ukrainian foreigner eventually scoring his first goal for Chelsea in their league win over Fulham in October. He then followed up with a balloon of chance that embarrassed David Raya in front of Arsenal.
The west London club endured one of the most turbulent periods in its history after finishing 12th in owner Todd Boehly’s first season at the club. And while Mudryk is solely to blame for Chelsea’s struggles on the pitch, his lack of goals has contributed to a run that has seen them win just 8 games in 2023.
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Conversely, Mudryk’s form at the foreign level, scoring 4 goals in his last six caps for Ukraine, would look like a coach’s claim that he is not being well used through his club or manager.
Carlo Nicolini, who has been with Shakhtar since 2020 after joining former manager Roberto De Zerbi, has suggested Mudryk leave Chelsea to find the best club and manager he can thrive with.
“Mudryk had the intention of taking another step there, and then the war broke out. He went to Chelsea, which, however, is not a team, in those contexts even the Americans fight,” he told the Italian broadcaster TVPlay.
“In the national team you can see the real Mudryk, he can do even more. You have to find the right environment and a coach who gives you confidence. He’s been given everything to rock out, I hope he can show it because he’s strong.
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Helping Mudryk develop into a world-class player is considered one of Pochettino’s biggest tests at Chelsea, and the Argentine has done a lot of work with the striker on the pitch to show his confidence. The 51-year-old says he’s already seeing the effects. of his work on the educational floor and hopes to see the Ukrainian’s most productive team in the second part of the season.
“After three months, he’s not an absolutely different player anymore because we’re not magical, but he’s a different person,” Pochettino said in October.
“We’re starting to see how adorable this guy is. He is very sensitive and intelligent. He’s very smart. And how vital it is to give confidence in life and accept it as true. When other people are confident, they can be open and start expressing their skill in soccer.
“Misha is doing very well in his relationships with the team, the coaching staff, the medical staff, with the club. This is a huge improvement. It’s about giving you exercises or advice on how to move between lines or just one. ”
At times last season, Mudryk failed to get a start in the team or even minutes as a substitute for Frank Lampard. Mudryk said this summer that Chelsea had seen only 20 per cent of their football since his arrival 10 months ago. Now, three months into the season, there have been glimpses of his ability, but they are few and far between; however, Pochettino obviously believes he can have a say in Chelsea’s future.
Of course, there is a threat that he will do so to such an extent that Pochettino will fight to retain him, especially as his former coaches give him recommendations on his long-term plans. And it will be up to the Chelsea manager to make sure he is not tempted to leave if, and when, despite everything, he realises his potential.
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