Mykhaylo Mudryk’s long-term development is intended to be aided by his inability to start, as Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has stated. After becoming one of the most expensive players in the history of the Blues last year, Mudryk has had a difficult time adjusting to life at Stamford Bridge.
Having only scored four goals in 42 outings for the West Londoners, Mudryk has found it difficult to live up to expectations during his time at Chelsea. He hasn’t started in the Premier League since the beginning of the year as a result of his inability to establish himself as a first-choice option.
Before Saturday’s matchup with Manchester City, Pochettino suggested that Mudryk’s growth as a player would benefit from “feeling the pain” of being a bench warmer.
The Chelsea manager stated, “It is a component of the evolution, the development.” “I believe that, as young guys as well, you need occasionally experience the agony when they don’t play because it’s never simple to grow, get more mature, and figure out how to get better.
“It’s crucial, in my opinion, to handle this crisis well. After that, it’s up to him to push the envelope and cross whatever boundary we believe they are capable of. Our coaching staff always faces enormous challenges.”
Mudryk’s dearth of starts was a topic Pochettino has already discussed; earlier this month, the Argentinean star insisted that he needed to get better to consistently be considered for games.
Following Chelsea’s crushing loss to Liverpool, Pochettino said, “It’s about the form during the season, if you keep your form and you are the best during every training session.”
“We have meritocracy within our coaching staff. The players that will give it their all on the field are the ones we will play with. He’s a young guy, I believe, who moved here a year ago. We are aware of the background to [the transfer]. He needs to get better, of course.
Though it’s a [team] game rather than tennis, he has incredible quality and promise. Some of our players have group performances to complete. It’s incredible if you see him, but once you do, you have to fit in and contribute to the squad. He has to adjust, and that takes time.”
This season, Mudryk has participated in 25 games for Chelsea in all competitions, with two assists and four goals. Bayern Munich was rumored to have shown interest in him during the January transfer window, but the move never happened, and he decided to stay at Stamford Bridge.
