Following Mykhaylo Mudryk’s performance against Middlesbrough in Tuesday’s second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final, Craig Burley has given his assessment of the Chelsea star.
The team led by Mauricio Pochettino has purchased their Wembley ticket. Naturally, the Blues were trailing 1-0 going into the second leg following their loss at Riverside Stadium. But in the rematch, Chelsea outperformed themselves and won 6-1 that evening.
Sadly for Chelsea, the evening was not ideal. Mykhaylo Mudryk suffered through another frustrating evening for the side.
Despite Chelsea’s victory, Craig Burley says he doesn’t trust Mykhaylo Mudryk.
Mudryk received the starting nod in the tie. The Ukraine international didn’t accomplish much in the first half, though, and looked off at the half. Prior to being replaced, he was also scheduled.
After the decisive victory, Craig Burley of ESPN was questioned if Pochettino now had a team he can stay with in the upcoming weeks. Furthermore, the former Chelsea midfielder stated that Mudryk is a player who is likely still under the radar.
“I have zero trust in Mudryk. I find a lot of what he does to be rather puzzling. I don’t really trust him since he does everything at a hundred miles per hour,” he remarked.
Extremely difficult first year for attacker in England
This season has had some positive moments. Still, it seems like Mudryk is having trouble convincing Chelsea’s skeptics.
He is still a young player, of course. This month marks the winger’s 23rd birthday. Thus, it would be premature to write him off entirely. However, it is understandable that Chelsea supporters would question whether he will ever live up to the team’s expectations.
After sitting on the bench for their previous two Premier League games, he did nothing to increase his chances of playing in their upcoming match.
Furthermore, Burley might not be the only one finding it difficult to fully trust the assailant.
Mauricio Pochettino explains the substitution of Mykhailo Mudryk.
Since Mudryk had already received a yellow card, Pochettino made the decision to substitute the 23-year-old rather than take any chances.
The Argentine commented, “If you watched the game, he got a yellow card,” in response to Mudryk’s withdrawal. Then, at the end of the first half, he did something, and we decided not to take a chance with him because he was too dangerous and nearly touched the opposition. We made the change because of this.
In the upcoming match between Chelsea and Aston Villa, will Mykhailo Mudryk start?
Chelsea’s return to action comes this Friday when they play Aston Villa in the FA Cup’s fourth round.
Mudryk might start, given that he will be more fit than players like Raheem Sterling and Palmer after being substituted early in Middlesbrough’s victory.
Given Villa’s superiority, Pochettino is likely to start with Palmer and Sterling, who have been his two primary wide players this season. Madueke’s goal last night may also move the England U21 international up the rankings for this coming game.
