‘Really focused’: Mauricio Pochettino says 22-year-old Chelsea player has been amazing in training recently

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Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino says Mykhailo Mudryk deserved his start against Fulham last night because of how he is performing in training.

Mykhailo Mudryk scored Chelsea’s first goal as the Blues went on to win 2-0, and Mauricio Pochettino has told football.london and other outlets that the winger is playing right now because he has earned the right to.

Mudryk did not start any of Chelsea’s first four Premier League matches this season, missing one because of injury.

However, the 22-year-old Ukrainian has been named in Pochettino’s first XI for the Blues’ last three top-flight fixtures.

Mykhailo Mudryk doing well in training

Mudryk has won a place in Chelsea’s starting line-up because of how he has been performing in training.

Speaking after their win at Craven Cottage yesterday, Pochettino said: “He played because he deserved and because he’s showing in the training sessions that he deserved to be.

“He was really focused and his performance in training provides us the confidence to put him on the pitch and play. Normally, it’s to the players to show us that they deserve to play.”

Mykhailo Mudryk can keep his place in the Chelsea team

Given that Ben Chilwell, a defender, is the other player Pochettino has been using on the left flank this season, we think there is a good chance that Mudryk retains his spot in the starting XI.

The Ukraine international just needs to continue offering a threat as he has done in Chelsea’s last few matches and keep working hard in training.

If Mudryk keeps doing the latter, it looks like he will at least be given a chance by Pochettino.

Chelsea’s next Premier League game is against Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday and if he is fit, it would be a surprise if the former Shakhtar Donetsk man did not start the match.