Former Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko has urged Chelsea to be patient with the under-fire Blues winger Mykhaylo Mudryk alleging that his best will be seen soon.
The former spectacular Blues star Shevchenko stressed that Graham Potter will see his countryman blossom in the long run if he can exercise some patience with the Ukrainian.
Mudryk joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023 for a fee worth £88.5m deal amidst Arsenal’s heavy interest in signing him.
Mudryk made a wonderful debut off the bench against Liverpool at Anfield but has struggled to make any impact since.
The 22-year-old Ukrainian has made only one assist and no goals from six Premier League games so far.
Meanwhile, there has been a notion that Arsenal was lucky by missing out on Mudryk, while Chelsea has suffered a waste of money for spending such a huge amount on a half-baked talent.
Paul Merson even confesses that Mykhaylo Mudryk is not Graham Potter‘s player, alleging that the Ukrainian is signed by the board.
However, amidst every doubt and rant engulfing the 22-year-old Ukrainian winger, former Chelsea striker and Ukraine manager Shevchenko has come out to back him.
Shevchenko admits that it is tough to judge a player who just arrived in the middle of the season into a club that has been struggling to get back to form.
The Stamford Bridge club is prospecting on building a thriving and vigorous club and that is why Mudryk and other youngsters were assembled.
Shevchenko said: “Chelsea has bought a talented player when he is very young, for the future.”
“He’s just starting his path in a massive football career.”
“His first step has been the right step, coming to Chelsea,”
“He’s part of an ambitious project. He’s in good hands.”
Shevchenko emphasized that most time new players find it difficult to quickly adapt to the atmosphere and playing style of their new clubs.
However, a good player like Mykhaylo Mudryk will find a way to showcase his talent if patience is shown towards him.
The former Ukraine manager, Shevchenko added that: “The Premier League usually demands results right now, but let’s see how he does in these eight years”
“Let’s see what he can do in the long term. The club must be patient with him, believe in his talent.”
The former Blues star said he wished he joined the Blues at a tender age”I wish I had come to Chelsea at his [Mudryk’s] age.”
Chelsea broke their transfer record to bring Shevchenko from AC Milan for about £30m in 2006.
During his prime time at Chelsea, he scored 22 goals in his two-season spell and played in their League Cup final victory in 2007.
Shevchenko was Ukraine’s manager from 2016 to 2021.
He managed his country during their run to the quarter-finals of Euro 2020, where they were beaten 4-0 by England in Rome.
Ukraine will be aiming to revenge when they lock horns with England at Wembley on Sunday, March 25 as they get their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign underway.
Kick-off time is 5:00pm.
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