Enzo Maresca Commends Mykhailo Mudryk's Progress After Slow Learning Journey

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Chelsea's head coach, Enzo Maresca, expressed admiration for Mykhailo Mudryk after their 4-1 triumph over Panathinaikos in the UEFA Europa Conference League. Maresca made significant changes to the lineup following a recent Premier League loss to Liverpool. Mudryk, one of these changes, excelled by scoring once and assisting twice, helping Chelsea maintain an unbeaten streak in the competition.

Maresca highlighted the importance of wingers like Mudryk getting into scoring positions. "We’re working with him and all the wingers," Maresca told TNT Sports. "They need to arrive inside the box in the position where Misha [Mudryk] scored. He’s struggled to arrive there, now he’s started to. That’s where we’re going to score goals."

The coach emphasised that despite changing players, Chelsea's team identity remains intact. "The most important thing is no matter how many players we change, you can see the identity of the team," Maresca stated. He praised his squad for seizing opportunities and maintaining a consistent style of play.

Mudryk's goal against Panathinaikos marked only his eighth since joining Chelsea in January 2023 and his first this season. His journey at Chelsea has been slower than anticipated, with limited league starts under Maresca. The winger played just 45 minutes in Chelsea's 6-2 win over Wolves in August.

Following Mudryk's standout performance, no player has provided more assists than him this season. This marks Chelsea's first back-to-back wins at the start of a European campaign since 2018-19. Despite this success, Maresca remains focused on ensuring each player contributes effectively to their style.

Chelsea now leads their Conference League group. When questioned about prioritising this competition given Chelsea's stature, Maresca explained their current standing reflects their performance level: "If we are a Champions League club, why are we in the Conference League? It’s because in this moment we belong to the Conference League," he said.

Maresca acknowledged that football ultimately places teams where they deserve based on performance. He remains confident that with continued improvement from players like Mudryk, Chelsea will achieve greater success.