Mudryk fires clear Chelsea message to Pochettino ahead of Aston Villa clash
Mauricio Pochettino has been sent a clear message by Mykhailo Mudryk ahead of the Blues facing Aston Villa in Premier League action
Mykhailo Mudryk will be hoping for a starting place in Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea team for the Premier League clash against Aston Villa.
A minor injury saw him miss the win against Luton and Carabao Cup triumph against AFC Wimbledon, but he has since returned to training. He also played over the international break for Ukraine in their European championship qualifier against England.
Up against Kyle Walker, Mudryk struggled to make a lasting impression, but supporters have called for either he, Noni Madueke or Cole Palmer to start. In place of that trio, Ben Chilwell has been deployed in an advanced role with Pochettino choosing only two recognised attackers in his last two starting XI’s.
A possible tactical rethink doesn’t currently appear likely with Pochettino defending his use of Chilwell in his press conference on Friday. “Ben is a full-back, I know, but he can help the team in different positions,” he said. I think in the animation of the team that Ben Chilwell created more chances than any other player. I think in the national team Ben played in a similar position.”
However, Mudryk looks to have showed off his best trait to Pochettino in training with his electric pace and quick feet on show. On Instagram, the January arrival posted a clip of his goal in a small-sided game where he breezes past one defender and receives the ball back from a team-mate before finishing emphatically.
“Not everything depends on what happens in a match,” he told Chelsea’s official website earlier this summer. “It’s more an effect of your mentality. When you feel confident and you feel the coach trusts you, you play another game without any doubts.
“From the opening days of pre-season, I started to understand what the coach wants from us – and from me. That makes it easier to enjoy the game with my team-mates.”