Mudryk’s lack of belief leaves Pochettino with a tough decision

At Wembley last Saturday, Mykhailo Mudryk had a tough moment during Chelsea’s game against Manchester City. In the final minutes, Chelsea needed a good kick to try to tie up the game, but Mudryk’s attempt went way too far, missing the target completely.

This wasn’t the only struggle Mudryk has faced during his time at Chelsea. Even though he wasn’t solely responsible for their 1-0 loss to Manchester City, that moment highlighted his difficulties.

Now, Mudryk is gearing up to face Arsenal, a team he almost joined last year before Chelsea swooped in and signed him instead. He might not get the warmest welcome at Emirates Stadium, especially if Cole Palmer, another player on the team, can’t play due to illness. In that case, Chelsea might be relying on Mudryk to make some big plays.

But it’s too early to say Mudryk is a total disappointment. If he’s at the top of his game, his speed could give Arsenal some trouble. However, there’s no guarantee he’ll even get to play.

One reason for doubt is that Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea’s coach, isn’t fully convinced of Mudryk’s defensive skills and understanding of the game. So, even if Palmer is out, Pochettino might choose to put Raheem Sterling in instead. Sterling hasn’t been in top form lately, but he brings experience and tactical know-how to the table, especially in important matches.

Mudryk might sometimes wonder if things would’ve been different if he’d joined Arsenal instead. But there’s no denying that Arsenal fans are happy with Leandro Trossard, a player they got instead of Mudryk. Since Trossard joined Arsenal from Brighton for £27 million, he’s scored 15 goals and made 12 assists in 63 games. In comparison, Mudryk has only managed six goals and four assists in 52 games for Chelsea.