Chelsea secured their first victory under new manager Enzo Maresca with a 2-0 win against Servette in the first leg of the Conference League qualification round on August 22.
Despite the positive result, the overall performance was far from convincing, leaving both fans and critics unimpressed.
The Blues struggled to generate meaningful chances throughout the match, which led to jeers from the home supporters as the teams went into halftime.
It was only in the second half that Chelsea managed to turn the game in their favor, with a penalty from Christopher Nkunku in the 50th minute and a late goal from substitute Noni Madueke in the 76th minute securing the victory.
One of the main talking points from the match was the underwhelming performance of Mykhailo Mudryk.
The Ukrainian winger, who was brought to Chelsea for a hefty £88.5 million transfer fee, once again failed to live up to expectations.
Mudryk’s lackluster display drew frustration from both the fans in attendance and from his manager.
The discontent among supporters was particularly evident on social media, where several fans expressed their disappointment with the winger’s performance.
Comments such as “There is no hope for him” and “Mudryk might actually be the worst ever player I’ve seen play this sport” highlighted the growing dissatisfaction with his contributions.
Since joining Chelsea, Mudryk has struggled to make a significant impact, managing just seven goals and four assists in 59 appearances across all competitions.
This underperformance has seen him fall behind other players in the squad, such as Pedro Neto and Christopher Nkunku, in Maresca’s preferred lineup.
Despite his ongoing struggles, Maresca decided to keep Mudryk on the pitch for the entire match against Servette, hoping that the winger could find some form and contribute to the team’s success.
The first half saw Mudryk deliver another disappointing performance, adding to the concerns about his ability to adapt to the demands of the Premier League and European football.
However, in the second half, there were glimpses of improvement, although they were not sufficient to erase the memory of his earlier struggles.
Mudryk’s inconsistency has been a recurring issue since his arrival at Stamford Bridge, and Maresca acknowledged this in his post-match comments.
The manager noted that while Mudryk has shown flashes of brilliance, these moments have been too sporadic, and the winger needs to become more consistent in his play, particularly in the final third of the pitch.
Maresca’s assessment of Mudryk was frank: “I think this is Mudryk, in terms of not only tonight, but in terms of since he joined the club.
I think he had some good moments and then some moments like flipping a coin.
You don’t know if it’s one thing or the other thing. If he can become more consistent, he can take one step forward.”
The manager’s comments reflect a broader concern within the club about Mudryk’s ability to fulfill the potential that led Chelsea to invest so heavily in him.
As Chelsea prepares for their upcoming Premier League match against Wolves on August 25, followed by the second leg against Servette in Switzerland on August 29, the team will be looking to build on this victory and deliver a more convincing performance.
Both the club and its supporters are eager to see Mudryk and the rest of the squad step up and demonstrate the quality that is expected of a team with Chelsea’s ambitions.
The pressure is mounting on Mudryk to turn his fortunes around and prove that he can be a valuable asset to the team.
With the season still in its early stages, there is time for the winger to find his form, but patience is wearing thin among fans who are desperate to see a return on the club’s significant investment.
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Mudryk to see if he can rise to the challenge and establish himself as a key player for Chelsea.
