Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has explained why one of his players is not one of the first names on his team sheet right now.
Mykhailo Mudryk has not been an automatic starter for Chelsea this season, being named on the bench in the Blues’ last four Premier League fixtures.
The above is unlikely to change until the winger gets better, with Mauricio Pochettino telling the Evening Standard and the rest of the English media that he needs to improve.
Until then, it looks like Mudryk is going to be in and out of this Chelsea side.
In total, he has made 25 appearances this term and scored four goals.
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Mauricio Pochettino explains why Mykhailo Mudryk is on the bench
Pochettino has warned Mudryk that he must improve and find and maintain form if he wants to be a regular starter under him.
“Yes, now he is on the bench,” the Argentine said. “Look, it’s about the form during the season – if you keep your form and you are the best during every training session. As coaching staff, we are a meritocracy – we are going to play with the players who are going to do their best on the pitch.
“I think he’s a young guy that arrived here one year ago. We know the circumstances around [the transfer]. Of course, he needs to improve.”
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Everyone at Chelsea needs to improve
With Chelsea currently sitting in 11th in the Premier League, it is quite clear that Mudryk is not the only player at Stamford Bridge who needs to improve.
The team as a whole have not been good enough lately, especially the defenders.
Their recent loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers means they have now conceded eight goals in their last two outings.
With a defensive record like that, Chelsea are not going to accomplish anything this season. But even before those defeats to Wolves and Liverpool, the club were not exactly where they wanted to be, in the Champions League places.
