Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca dug out by club chief over Mykhaylo Mudryk misery

Enzo Maresca’s use of Chelsea winger Mykhaylo Mudryk has been criticised by Shakhtar Donetsk chief Serhiy Palkin.

Mudryk became a sensation at Shakhtar and earned the Ukrainian side an eye-watering £88.5million transfer fee when Chelsea forked out in January last year. But the 23-year-old has been unable to replicate his best form on a consistent basis since landing in the Premier League.

With just 82 minutes of league action under his belt this season, Mudryk is struggling for game time behind starting wingers Jadon Sancho and Noni Madueke. The summer arrival of Pedro Neto has only heightened the competition at Stamford Bridge.

While Mudryk has been found wanting at the business end of the pitch during his time at Chelsea, with just five goals and four assists from 50 league appearances, Palkin believes it is down to the way he is being used.

“You don’t need a Ferrari if you don’t know how to drive it,” he told GOAL. “A normal car will do. If you buy a Ferrari, you should think about how to handle it. That’s my opinion on Mudryk at Chelsea.”

Palkin’s comments are reminiscent of a famous Zlatan Ibrahimovic rant, when the Swedish striker reflected on his ill-fated spell working under Pep Guardiola at Barcelona.

“When you buy me, you are buying a Ferrari,” he said. “If you drive a Ferrari you put premium petrol in the tank, you hit the motorway and you step on the gas. Guardiola filled up with diesel and took a spin in the countryside. He should have bought a Fiat.”

While Ibrahimovic’s spell in Catalonia lasted only one season, Mudryk will hope he has time to turn his situation around in England. His pace down the left flank has caught fans’ attention, but end product remains an issue for the former Shakhtar extraordinaire.

“I am sure that he will show his qualities when he gets the chance,” Palkin continued. “He is an absolute difference maker, which can also be seen in his appearances for the Ukrainian national team. There are very few players in this category.”

One source of encouragement for Mudryk is Maresca’s willingness to rotate in cup competitions. The Italian has routinely made wholesale changes in both the Carabao Cup and the Europa League, with Mudryk notching an assist in a 5-0 win over Barrow last month and playing the full 90 minutes of a home victory over Gent. He will hope to get another run-out against Panathinaikos on Thursday.