Speed has had a funny relationship with Chelsea this term.
Thomas Tuchel’s team did not immediately spring in to life at the start of the campaign, winning just three of their opening seven games.
This inconsistent run caused Todd Boehly to act swiftly and sack Tuchel, before rapidly announcing Graham Potter as the coach.
Potter than gradually grew into his role in the dugout, engineering a nine-match unbeaten run between his appointment and late October.
Things came crashing down pretty quickly for the Englishman, however, as he lost four of the five fixtures ahead of the World Cup.
The unusually long mid-season break did not appear to help the Chelsea boss much.
His side did return to domestic action with a win over Bournemouth, but a draw away to Nottingham Forest and three straight defeats plunged Potter back under pressure.
Away from the field, Boehly and his staff have been working furiously to improve the stuttering squad.
They did not hang about adding three fresh faces once the winter transfer window opened for business.
Benoit Badiashile, David Datro Fofana and Andrey Santos were all signed in quick succession.
But the quickest piece of business was saved for Mykhailo Mudryk.
Mykhailo Mudryk has been captured by Chelsea
The 22-year-old was swooped up in a flash from right beneath Arsenal’s nose, with Chelsea giving their London rivals no time to change the transaction.
Mudryk was officially unveiled as a Blue during yesterday’s Premier League tie against Crystal Palace yesterday.
His mega money move from Shakhtar Donetsk was confirmed during the capital city clash.
The home fans were treated to the latest recruit during half-time, giving them a glimpse of the latest player to be wearing the number 15.
Mykhailo Mudryk is a fast mover
Chelsea not only acquired Mudryk to disgruntle Arsenal, but to add a genuinely gifted attacker to their ranks.
He has goals and assists in his locker, not to mention pace to burn; a combination to strike fear into defenders.
Boehly’s recruitment crew might’ve been well aware of the latter skill, especially as it’s been on show to the continent in the past few months.
According to the official Champions League website, no player in the competition racked up a faster sprint speed than Mudryk in the group stages.
The Ukrainian clocked a top dash of 36 km/h in one of Shakhtar’s European outings.
This is level with Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele, who in an alternate universe could be calling Mudryk a Chelsea co-worker.
They both beat Rafael Leao in a sprint race, another forward linked to the Blues, as well as Alphonso Davies and Kylian Mbappe.
Chelsea will hope their new speed merchant can hit the ground running straight away.
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