Director suggests Chelsea don’t know how to use ‘difference-maker’

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Chelsea spent massive money on Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Mykhailo Mudryk last year.

After a slow start, it is probably fair to say that the first of that trio has come good now. Moises Caicedo has easily been one of Chelsea‘s best players this season.

According to WhoScored, the midfielder is currently averaging the most tackles per league game in the Blues’ squad.

Fernandez and Mudryk, though, have not been as successful as their teammate. The former was dropped to the bench for Chelsea’s 2-1 loss against Liverpool over the weekend, while the latter did not even make the matchday squad.

• READ MORE: Chelsea still believe their £100k-a-week player is a ‘top-level talent’ despite poor start to season

Sergiy Palkin questions Chelsea’s purchase of Mykhailo Mudryk

Chelsea signed Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk back in the 2023 January transfer window, and the club’s general director Sergiy Palkin has questioned their decision to do so, believing that the Blues had no plans for him.

Speaking to Goal, Palkin said: “You don’t need a Ferrari if you don’t know how to drive it. 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.”

The Shakhtar director later went on to add: “I am sure that he will show his qualities when he gets the chance. 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.”

Despite his lack of starts this season, it has been claimed that Chelsea will not sell Mudryk in the January transfer window.

Enzo Maresca’s plans for Mykhailo Mudryk

Enzo Maresca was not at Chelsea when the club signed Mudryk. Had the 44-year-old been, maybe he would have advised his bosses not to bring the Ukrainian to west London.

Right now, it is hard to see where Mudryk fits in. Again, there was no room for him in the matchday squad over the weekend, while he has made just one start in the Premier League this season.

This is not a £30m signing we are talking about either. Mudryk is too expensive of an asset to just have sitting on the bench, yet that is where he finds himself under Maresca.

Jadon Sancho has been starting on the left, while Pedro Neto has also played some games there.

Outside of the Conference League and Carabao Cup, it does not look like the Chelsea manager has too much use for Mudryk.