Mudryk needs one thing to show his potential, Chelsea told

Robin Bairner

• 1 Apr 2023 20:30 BST
• 3 min read

Chelsea manager Graham Potter’s gamble to restore Mykhailo Mudryk to the starting XI failed to pay off as the Ukraine international was substituted after 56 minutes of Saturday’s 2-0 loss against Aston Villa in the Premier League.

Mudryk, 22, had Chelsea’s two outstanding chances but after being denied by Emi Martinez first time around, he made life all too easy for the goalkeeper with a huge chance before the break, electing to shoot too tamely and too early when the expectation was that he would score.

MORE: How much would it cost Chelsea to sack Graham Potter?

His failure to net is a continuation of a problem that Chelsea have had collectively in front of goal this season and he was defended by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who was a darling of Stamford Bridge during his time at the club from 2000-04.

The 51-year-old England assistant manager says all Mudryk needs is time to prove himself.

MORE: Chelsea sink to 28-year low thanks to Potter's Badiashile blunder

Speaking to Sky Sports, the ex-Netherlands striker said: “He’s not the finished article. He’s got potential. He needs to be in these situations more to do the right thing and make the right decisions.

“He’s cost a lot of money but he’s just been in the country a few month. He’s not used enough to be in these kind of positions. If you get repeatedly into these positions, you take an extra touch, you get closer to the goal and you shoot with more conviction. He needs time.

“It’s a bad miss, don’t get me wrong, it’s a bad, bad miss. But because the boy has signed for £88 million, it doesn’t mean he’s the finished article, it doesn’t mean that he’s not going to miss chances. You need to give him the room and space to fail and to start again.”

Mudryk's double challenge at Chelsea

Hasselbaink pointed out that Mudryk is getting used to a new position as well as a new country.

“He’s a wide player,” he said. “You can see how he’s gone to take the chance, that he’s not used to being in these kind of situations. He needs to get comfortable in these situations and needs to work on it.

“Time will tell if his transfer fee was right. He’s got the potential.”

Murdyk has yet to score for Chelsea in eight appearances.