Chelsea: Enzo Maresca insists Mykhailo Mudryk will come good after struggles, but 'learning process' is slower
Updated 25/10/2024 at 09:53 GMT+1
Enzo Maresca may have made 11 changes for Chelsea's UEFA Conference League clash with Panathinaikos, but that did not stop them winning 4-1. Mykhailo Mudryk has been under pressure to perform since arriving at Stamford Bridge, but he was excellent, scoring one goal and registering two assists. Maresca was full of praise for the forward after the match.
Highlights: Nkunku, Felix & Mudryk score as Chelsea run riot
Video credit: TNT Sports
Enzo Maresca believes Mykhailo Mudryk can still become an important player at Stamford Bridge after he scored in Chelsea's 4-1 UEFA Conference League victory against Panathinaikos.
The Ukrainian star has struggled to adapt to life in west London since completing a reported £89 million move from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023.
However, he scored one and set up two Joao Felix goals as the Blues recorded their second win in the UEFA Conference League this season.
Maresca admitted that Mudryk has struggled to hit the ground running since joining the club, but that he has the potential to score goals moving forward.
"We're working with him and all the wingers," the manager said. "They need to arrive inside the box in the position where Misha [Mudryk] scored.
"He's struggled to arrive there, now he's started to. That's where we're going to score goals. We want the best for Misha - since day one we've tried to help him.
"Probably he's one of the guys that the learning process is more slow compared to the rest. But he's improving.
"I'm sure that slowly, slowly we're going to arrive where he will score more goals and to be more important for us."
Felix's double, Mudryk's strike and a Christopher Nkunku penalty put Chelsea 4-0 up before Facundo Pellistri got a goal back for Panathinaikos.
Maresca made 11 changes from the side that fell to a 2-1 defeat in the Premier League clash with Liverpool.
However, he insists that the identity of the team is more important than the personnel on the pitch.
"The most important thing is no matter how many players we change, you can see the identity of the team," he said.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2024/10/24/4054984-82237333-2560-1440.jpg)
‘He told me something incredible’ - Watch amazing interview as Mourinho fires broadside at ref
Video credit: TNT Sports
"The identity is quite clear. What we want is exactly what they're doing - taking the chance when we give it to them. Tonight, once again they showed that."
The win means Chelsea are now top of the league phase table. Maresca believes the Blues deserve to be playing in the UEFA Conference League rather than the Champions League.
"If we are a Champions League club, why are we in the Conference League? It's because in this moment we belong to the Conference League.
"Football in the end always puts you where you deserve to be."
---
Stream the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League live on TNT Sports and discovery+
Related Topics
Thoughts?
Advertisement
Advertisement