Enzo Maresca has admitted he’s very happy for Mykahilo Mudryk following Chelsea’s victory against Panathinaikos in the Conference League on Thursday night.
The Blues ran out comfortable 4-1 winners in Athens to make it two wins from two in the league phase of the competition following their victory against Gent on match day one.
It was a much changed side again with Maresca making 11 changes from the team that started last Sunday’s defeat to Liverpool.
Maresca really happy for Mudryk
It meant an opportunity for the likes of both Mudryk and Joao Felix from the off and the pair had a point to prove having both not played against Liverpool.
There have been questions surrounding Mudryk this season, but the Ukrainian sent a timely reminder of his ability with an excellent performance.
The 23-year-old combined brilliantly with Joao Felix for Chelsea’s opener, before he doubled the lead shortly after the break with a header from a pinpoint Pedro Neto cross.
Mudryk and Felix then combined again for Chelsea’s third with the Portugal international grabbing his second of the game via a hefty deflection, although his shot was going on target.
For Mudryk he did exactly what he needed to do and has given Maresca food for thought ahead of Sunday’s game against Newcastle.
Speaking after the game Maresca admitted he was happy for Mudryk and the pair were seen celebrating together after he scored.
“Very happy for him,” Maresca told his post-match press conference.
“We spend a lot of time to help the players. We have been working with the wingers to arrive inside the box and in the position he scored. He struggled to arrive there but now he arrives there. Not only for him but for Pedro, Jadon, Noni.
“The learning process is more slow compared to the rest but he is improving.”
Mudryk will be hoping he’s done enough to be named in Chelsea’s squad for the game with Newcastle and with Jadon Sancho an unused substitute there’s an outside chance he could get just his second league start of the season.
