Chelsea’s manager Enzo Maresca lauded Mykhailo Mudryk for his outstanding display in the October 24 Conference League game against Panathinaikos, where Chelsea achieved a dominant 4-1 win in Athens.
This victory followed their previous 4-2 triumph over Gent in their opening match of the competition.
The goals came from Christopher Nkunku, Mudryk, and two from Joao Felix, with the Blues demonstrating their skill and control over the Greek side.
Since joining Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk for £88.5 million in January 2023, Mudryk has struggled to secure a steady place in the lineup and faced criticism for his inconsistent performances.
However, in the match against Panathinaikos, the 23-year-old Ukrainian winger delivered a notable performance, contributing significantly with a goal and two assists.
Mudryk played a part in three of Chelsea’s goals, first setting up Joao Felix’s opener in the 22nd minute, scoring a goal himself early in the second half, and later assisting Felix’s second goal in the 55th minute.
Maresca expressed his pleasure at Mudryk’s display, praising his effectiveness in Greece.
“I’m very happy to see Mudryk there, in that position and scoring that goal,” he said, as reported by Fabrizio Romano.
The manager also commented on Mudryk’s gradual development, acknowledging that the winger’s progress has been somewhat slower than that of Chelsea’s other wingers.
“Mykhailo’s learning process is more slow compared to the other wingers, but he is improving,” Maresca noted.
This suggests that while Mudryk may not have reached his full potential yet, he is making strides toward improvement.
Since joining Chelsea, Mudryk has made 67 appearances, scoring eight goals and recording nine assists.
Although he has faced challenges adjusting to life at Stamford Bridge, his recent performance has raised optimism among fans and the coaching staff for a potential upturn in form.
Maresca also praised the versatility of another Chelsea player, Renato Veiga.
The 21-year-old, typically a left-back, was deployed as a left center-back against Panathinaikos, showcasing his adaptability.
Veiga, who has also played as a midfielder, demonstrated his range of skills across various roles on the field.
Maresca reflected on Veiga’s adaptability, saying, “Renato, I just said to him inside the changing room, he has played as a center-back, full-back, holding midfielder, attacking midfielder.”
He emphasized the importance of flexibility in today’s football, adding, “The reason why I love Chelsea is because many players can be versatile. It is better for the team and for the players.
Today, if you just play one position, I don’t think it’s enough: you need to learn to play more positions.”
Chelsea’s victory over Panathinaikos marks a positive progression in their European campaign, with the team showing signs of versatility and growth under Maresca’s leadership.
Chelsea will seek to carry this momentum into their next Premier League clash against Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge on October 27.
Elsewhere, former United legend Paul Scholes did not hold back in his criticism of Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, slamming his decision-making following United’s match against Fenerbahce, calling it detrimental to the team’s progress.
