In the embargoed section of yesterday’s Enzo Maresca pre-match press conference for Barrow tonight, the Blues head coach took some questions on winger Mykhailo Mudryk.
The Ukrainian international is largely expected to be handed a start tonight, or at the very least some minutes as a substitute. But the likelihood is he will start the League Cup third round clash at Stamford Bridge tonight and be given another chance to show what he can do.
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Mudryk has not shown anywhere near enough yet during his Chelsea career. He has not lived up to the hype and the apparent potential that Chelsea consistently claimed he has when they signed him. Sure, there has been some signs, and Mudryk has devastating pace to burn. But overall, he’s not been good enough.
Many people have put that down to a lack of confidence and say that Mudryk is just a confidence player. But Maresca has denied that as a common myth, at least in his opinion.
Mudryk does not suffer with a lack of confidence
As cited by Kieran Gill of The Daily Mail, Maresca responded when asked about Mudryk:
“I don’t think it’s a lack of confidence. Misha is Misha, you have to accept the way he is. Hopefully he can get minutes and do better.”
Personally, I DO think Mudryk is a confidence player. I think he needs a run of games, a goal, an assist or two, and some good and consistent form to really be able to start believing in himself enough to do it regularly. But I also think he lacks some football intelligence and quality.