“I don’t know What is good at, how did he got sign” – Steve Nicol just can’t see what 23-year-old player brings to Chelsea
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!In the wake of Chelsea’s 4-2 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers, Steve Nicol has spared no punches in his evaluation of Mykhailo Mudryk, a player who came on in the second half and provided the assist for Thiago Silva’s consolation goal. However, Nicol, expressing his candid views on ESPN FC, raised substantial doubts about Mudryk’s contributions to the Chelsea side.
Despite the Ukrainian winger’s assist against Wolves marking only his second in the current Premier League season, and a modest three goals to his name, Nicol’s assessment was unrelenting. He contended that pace seems to be the sole weapon in Mudryk’s footballing arsenal. The Liverpool legend, dissecting Mudryk’s performance in the Wolves game, bluntly stated, “Look at Mudryk. €70m right, can somebody please tell me, other than being an Olympic sprinter, in football terms, what is he good at?”
Joining the chorus of critique, Jamie O’Hara echoed similar sentiments, leaving the lingering question: Is Mykhailo Mudryk genuinely nothing more than an “Olympic sprinter” in the realm of football?
While such appraisals may sound severe, Mudryk’s perceived shortcomings in the final third have painted him as a player defined by speed and little else. At just 23 years old, the Ukrainian winger has the luxury of time to evolve and augment his game with additional goals and assists.
The narrative suggests that if Mudryk can marry his existing pace with an expanded skill set, he could metamorphose into a formidable asset for Chelsea. However, until such a transformation occurs, scrutiny appears inevitable, especially considering his hefty €70m price tag and the expectations that accompany his role as an attacker.
Since his arrival at Stamford Bridge in the January 2023 transfer window, there has been an anticipatory gaze for Mudryk to deliver in the box, yet he has yet to fulfill those expectations. As the spotlight intensifies, the onus rests on Mudryk to silence his critics with a more rounded and impactful contribution to the Chelsea cause.