Graham Potter is hopeful Mykhailo Mudryk will benefit from his time out of the Chelsea side and believes it was never going to be easy for the Ukraine international to be at his “absolute maximum” after arriving from Shakhtar Donetsk in the winter transfer window. Mudryk was introduced as a second-half substitute in defeats to Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur before not featuring at all in the win at home to Leeds United and the second-leg triumph over Dortmund on Tuesday. That has resulted in some questioning Potter’s use of the Ukrainian. However, the Chelsea head coach insists Mudryk has a positive future at Stamford Bridge and is understanding of the adaptation period new signings have to go through.
Graham Potter said: “Of course, every player wants to play and it’s important that players play to improve, I think that’s a fact. But at the same time, it’s not a straight road, it’s not just a play and everything happens in a linear way. Sometimes you have to take a step away. Sometimes you just need a bit of training time. Sometimes you need a breather. So there are a lot of factors. Hopefully, he can benefit from the time he’s had. And again, it’s not easy for him to just arrive in the middle of what was pre-season for him and to come into a new country, new club, new league, and just hit his absolute maximum level. It is regardless of the fee; I know people will look at the fee but it doesn’t change the situation he is in. We’re positive about him. We’re positive about the future for him. But we need just to help them settle and help him understand what he needs to do to help us.”
Chelsea’s attacking players have come under heavy scrutiny since the turn of the year. None more so than Kai Havertz, who has continuously been deployed as the number nine ahead of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and David Datro Fofana. Yet against Dortmund, the German forward was outstanding.
