Andriy Shevchenko Backs Mykhailo Mudryk to Come Good at Chelsea
Andriy Shevchenko, the legendary Ukrainian footballer, has backed compatriot Mykhailo Mudryk to come good at Chelsea once he adapts to the Premier League. Chelsea signed Mudryk for an eight-year contract in January 2021 and Shevchenko believes the young player has the quality to make it at Stamford Bridge.
Mudryk’s Struggles at Chelsea
Mudryk had a successful first-half of the season with Shakhtar Donetsk, scoring seven goals in 12 league appearances. However, since his move to Chelsea, he has failed to score in 17 games and largely struggled to make an impact.
Shevchenko Believes in Mudryk’s Quality
Shevchenko is not overly concerned for his compatriot, however, and believes he will prove his ‘quality’ at a club he called home for three years. He said: “Mudryk is very young but I think he is quite confident. I’ve seen some of his interviews and he knows his quality. Chelsea signed him for eight years, it’s a long-term contract and they believe in the quality of the player. In football if you have the opportunity you have to take it. I think he’s going to have plenty of opportunities but we’ll see how it goes. For me he is quality, he is sharp, he’s strong, he’s fast and you just have to adapt better for Premier League football. The best advice is to just believe in yourself. I think he has this quality. He knows he’s a good player. My best advice is just keep working hard and see what you can achieve.”
Mitigating Factors
Last season, Mudryk was playing in a team that finished 12th in the Premier League and was managed by Graham Potter who was sacked in April and replaced by Frank Lampard until the end of the season. Last month, Chelsea unveiled former Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager, with the Argentine set to take over in July.
Conclusion
Andriy Shevchenko has backed Mykhailo Mudryk to come good at Chelsea once he adapts to the Premier League. Shevchenko believes that Mudryk has the quality to make it at Stamford Bridge and that he just needs to believe in himself and keep working hard. With the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino as manager, there is hope that Mudryk will be able to make an impact at Chelsea this season.