Pochettino lauds Mykhailo Mudryk’s efforts to adapt at Chelsea

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has praised Ukrainian winger Mykhailo Mudryk for his efforts to adapt at the club and English lifestyle.

Mudryk who arrived from Shakhtar Donetsk in January for a potentially record-breaking fee of £88 million, has faced inconsistency in his starting role and is yet to score his first Chelsea goal.

The 22-year-old’s move to English football has been marked by challenges, including limited playing time due to the suspension of the Ukrainian domestic league during the war in Ukraine.

Mudryk’s move to Chelsea also marked his first experience living outside of Ukraine, a factor that Pochettino has considered as crucial for young players adapting to a new culture abroad.

In recent matches, Mudryk has been given the opportunity to showcase his potential, and recently, Pochettino has acknowledged his positive contributions, especially in building on-field chemistry with Chelsea’s new striker, Nicolas Jackson.

Pochettino said, “It’s about to adapt, it’s about to help them to settle. Then the most difficult thing is to understand what these guys need to settle and to feel comfortable and to express their talent.”

Pochettino described Mudryk as a unique talent, expressing admiration for his new found form.