Pochettino fires fresh warning to Mudryk despite scoring Chelsea winner

12 March 2024 , 11:03

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Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino (Image: Getty Images)

Mauricio Pochettino has warned Mykhaylo Mudryk he is not ready to make his first Premier League start of 2024 yet, despite his matchwinning cameo against Newcastle.

Chelsea beat Newcastle 3-2 on Monday, with Nicolas Jackson, Cole Palmer and Mudryk all getting on the scoresheet for the Blues. Mudryk's goal was a particularly fine effort as the winger skipped past Fabian Schar and rounded goalkeeper Martin Dubravka before slotting the ball into the back of the net.

However, when asked after the game if Mudryk's performance could earn him his first league start since December, Pochettino challenged the 23-year-old to keep working hard and improving his game.

"It was a very good goal and that is what we expect from a player from the bench - impact," Pochettino said. "Then it is about competing with different players in his position. Then he will deserve to (start). It's more of a question for him than for me"

Liverpool legend Jamie Carrgher, meanwhile, suggested Mudryk's performance against Newcastle could be "the start of something" following his disappointing start to his Chelsea career. "I was just pleased Mudryk scored," Carragher told Sky Sports.

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"It's not been easy for him. It hasn't gone as well for him as he would have liked. It's shocking from Newcastle. I saw him in the Champions League a couple of years ago, there's a player there. Hopefully this for him is the start of something."

Gary Neville also praised Mudryk and the way he scored his goal. "He's been lively since he came on for Raheem Sterling. He was positive, he was brave, he took it off Conor Gallagher," Neville said while on commentary.

Mudryk celebrates his goal against Newcastle (Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

"It was initially Jackson down that left-hand side that they set free, they get back in Newcastle, he just plays it back to Gallagher who doesn't know Mudryk is there and he gets dispossessed off his own player.

"But, Mudryk can just sneak it through the legs of Schar and he has that composure to take it around the goalkeeper. Sometimes he's not the best in the final moment, but this was really good.

" It looks like he has taken this game away from Newcastle and a much-needed three points it would be for Chelsea." Chelsea will be back in action this weekend when they face Leicester in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

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Matthew Cooper