Poch: Mudryk needs better understanding of the game

Mykhailo Mudryk: Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino says £88.5m winger needs ‘better understanding of game’

VIA SKY SPORTS:

Mykhailo Mudryk fails to impress on his first start of season in Chelsea’s goalless draw at Bournemouth; the £88.5m winger is yet to score a Premier League goal in 19 appearances; Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino: “He still needs to learn… it’s about understanding the game better”

Mauricio Pochettino believes Mykhailo Mudryk needs to “understand the game better” after the winger failed to make an impact on his first start of the season in Chelsea’s 0-0 draw at Bournemouth.

The £88.5m signing was substituted in the 63rd minute as his disappointing time at Chelsea continues, with the Ukraine international yet to score a Premier League goal in his 19 appearances.

Mudryk joined Stamford Bridge from Shakhtar Donetsk on a eight-and-a-half-year deal in January and he is yet to impress, but Pochettino believes the 22-year-old needs more time to adapt to the Premier League.

The Chelsea head coach told Sky Sports: “He is improving. He still needs to learn; the Premier League is very fast, the speed of the game is so fast.

“I think it’s about understanding the game better, try to be more connected sometimes with the team.

“We need to give the time and to give the tools for him to improve during the season.”

Mudryk was part of a £1bn splurge by Chelsea since their takeover in May last year, but their spending is not translating to success on the pitch with the drab goalless draw at Bournemouth leaving them with five points from their opening five games.

Chelsea have only scored five goals in the Premier League so far this season – their fewest after five games of a top-flight campaign since 1995-96 (5), when they finished 11th.

The Blues wasted several chances at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday and Pochettino admitted his side need to be calmer in front of goal if they are to solve their scoring issues.

He said: “We need to be tough in the way we are trying. It’s about improving our efficacy in front of the goal.

“We need to be calm also, but in these types of circumstances it is not easy for the players to be calm in front of the goal but we cannot blame no one.”