Chelsea boss Pochettino takes unusual approach to help struggling Mudryk
Mauricio Pochettino thinks Mykhaylo Mudryk is about to score his first Chelsea goal because he has impressed him while playing crossbar challenge on the training ground.
Mudryk has struggled to make an impact since joining the Blues in a £87million move from Shakhtar Donetsk in January. He has failed to find the back of the net in 22 appearances for the club, with his own difficulties in front of goal mirroring that of his team.
Chelsea have managed just five goals in six Premier League matches so far this season – and three of those came in their only win, against newly-promoted Luton. They face Brighton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night and Pochettino is convinced Mudryk will come good soon, having noted his body language while playing a game at Cobham.
“The problem with confidence is we cannot buy it in the supermarket,” he said in his pre-match press conference. “It is about time. You know how the brain works. It is about little by little creating situations that can provide trust and confidence and belief.
“One example: today, with Mudryk, I like to play hitting the crossbar from outside the box. He said to me today: ‘I’m not going to play with you anymore because always you win.’ I said, ‘yes, because I have the belief. The balance between belief and quality I know very well because I am 50 years old and you are still young. You need to still know yourself.’ Today was the first time that we drew.
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“Now, you start to believe in yourself, you start to believe in your quality because, if not, it is not a good balance between belief and quality. It is difficult. That is important.”
Pochettino’s comments come after he openly criticised the Ukraine international after a goalless draw against Bournemouth earlier this month. “He still needs to learn; the Premier League is very fast, the speed of the game is so fast. I think it's about understanding the game better, try to be more connected sometimes with the team," he said.
Mykhaylo Mudryk has been impressing in training (Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)HAVE YOUR SAY! Will Mykhaylo Mudryk come good for Chelsea in the coming games? Comment below.
Chelsea have failed to score in their last three games, spurning numerous chances in 1-0 defeats by Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa and in a 0-0 draw with Bournemouth. They are 14th in the Premier League table, with only Luton and Burnley having scored fewer goals.
The Blues have to pick up points in their next Premier League games against Fulham and Burnley before a difficult run of fixtures against Arsenal, Brentford, Tottenham, Manchester City and Newcastle. Ian Wright has expressed concern for Pochettino, who has pressure mounting following another expensive transfer window for the club.
"You look at Chelsea and you think something is going to have to give soon. I think it’s the next two games. If they don’t do it, you have to start worrying for Pochettino,” Wright said on The Kelly and Wrighty Show with Kelly Cates.
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