Andriy Shevchenko ‘excited’ to see Mykhailo Mudryk at Chelsea this season with Ukraine star ‘looking sharp’ in pre-season
Andriy Shevchenko is very much looking forward to watching his fellow Ukrainian Mykhailo Mudryk at Chelsea this season.
The 22-year-old completed his move to the Blues in the January transfer window but is yet to truly shine for the club.
Mudryk made 17 appearances during his first half-season at Chelsea, amassing two assists but no goals.
He was also part of a Blues side that could only scupper a dismal 12th place finish in the Premier League.
However, Mudryk has shown glimpses of his quality during Chelsea’s pre-season tour in the United States.
As a result, former Blues star Shevchenko has revealed he is ready to see what the winger has in store for the upcoming campaign.
Speaking on Chelsea’s forthcoming season to talkSPORT Drive ahead of Game4Ukraine this weekend, he said: “I’m very excited, especially because the Ukrainian player Mudryk is there.
“I’ve been looking at a couple friendly games that Chelsea have been playing in America and I think he’s getting there.
“The team is starting to play very good football and it’s going to be an exciting season for Chelsea.”
“Always the expectation is very high for him,” the 2004 Ballon d’Or winner added on Mudryk.
“The club spent very important money also, they signed him for a very long term of the contract, eight years, that means the club believes in him.
“Obviously he had a very slow start but I’ve been looking at him in pre-season games and he’s looked sharp. I wish all the best for him to start the season very well and show all his quality.”
Chelsea’s 4-3 pre-season win over Brighton saw Mudryk score a fantastic goal, a first-time volley from outside the area.
He then revealed his belief that he has shown just 20 per cent of his capabilities as a Blues star so far.
Mauricio Pochettino is now his boss, a manager who has a good track record of developing younger players.
Therefore this season could be the one where Mudryk makes a real breakthrough as Chelsea set their sights on silverware once again.
You can listen to Game4Ukraine, a charity match raising money to rebuild a school that was recently destroyed by Russian missile attacks, live and exclusively on talkSPORT.
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Andriy Shevchenko, the legendary Ukraine footballer and the current coach of the national team, is looking forward to seeing fellow countryman Mykhailo Mudryk at Chelsea this season. Shevchenko spoke about what Mudryk brings to the team and how excited he is to see him develop at the London club.
Mudryk joined Chelsea from Dynamo Kyiv in the summer transfer window and his integration into the squad has been seamless, with Shevchenko remarking how his “efforts have been great” in pre-season training. The Ukraine manager believes that the 25 year-old will contribute heavily to the Blues this season, adding “Mudryk is full of talent and potential.”
The midfielder has already been gaining a lot of admirers, with most recently Chelsea boss Frank Lampard hailing Mudryk’s “incredible natural leadership” and how his “attitude has been spot on” from the start.
The former Milan and Chelsea striker is looking forward to seeing how the Ukrainian progresses at the London club, adding “we could see how much he has developed during his time at Dynamo Kyiv, and he looks as sharp as ever during pre-season. I’m excited to see how he develops with Chelsea and I wish him all the luck for the season.”
It looks like Chelsea have a real gem in Mudryk and with some great talent and luck, we may see the midfielder shine yet again at Stamford Bridge this season.