Featured Image Credit: Getty / Instagram
Topics: Mykhailo Mudryk, Chelsea, Premier League, Mauricio Pochettino
Ryan Smart
Topics: Mykhailo Mudryk, Chelsea, Premier League, Mauricio Pochettino
Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has liked an Instagram post which calls out his lack of starts at Stamford Bridge.
Mudryk has thus far struggled to adapt to English football after moving to Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk for an initial fee of £61 million (potentially rising to £88.5 million) in January.
The Ukrainian registered no goals and two assists in 15 Premier League games, and was generally restricted to substitute appearances last season under Graham Potter and Frank Lampard.
In the off-season, according to The Athletic, Mudryk worked hard to nail down a regular place in Chelsea's lineup and did extra gym work outside of training.
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But after having a full pre-season with his new employers - he hadn't played for two months after signing in January due to Ukrainian football's winter break - things haven't really gone to plan for the 22-year-old.
He has started more games for Ukraine (one) this season than he has for Chelsea, and was unable to make an impact off the bench in their 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest before the international break.
Now, Mudryk has liked a post online which appears to indicate his feelings at his current situation.
The post, added by Instagram account Wonderkids, lists every game Mudryk has started for Chelsea - and every game he has come on as a substitute or failed to appear at all.
The caption reads: "If Mudryk is to justify his €70m price tag he's going to need a run of games in the starting lineup.
"The winger hasn't started back-to-back Premier League games since his full debut back in February."
Speaking about the Ukrainian last month, manager Mauricio Pochettino explained: "He's a young player and a player that has a lot of talent. I think he needs to build his continuity and trust [with team-mates], work hard in the training sessions during the week and continue to show he is ready to perform.
"We need to also build that trust with him and he needs to build it with us as part of the team, as is the same with many of our younger players."