Five key stats about Mykhailo Mudryk to excite Chelsea fans

 

Chelsea appear to have beaten Arsenal to the signing of Ukrainian winger Mykhailo Mudryk, even if the Blues have to spend big to bring the youngster to England from Shakhtar Donetsk. Nevertheless, we have picked out five facts about Mudryk as supporters look to learn more about their big-money signing. 

 

He's been key in Shakhtar's title push 

 

While he won't be around to help Shakhtar when the league returns after the winter break, Mykhailo Mudryk has still scored seven times in the Ukrainian Premier League this season. Considering the Miners have netted 29 times in their opening 13 league matches, this accounts for 24.1% of their total goals in 2022/23. 

 

Largely deployed off the left flank, though one who can operate anywhere across the frontline, Mudryk affords Graham Potter a viable attacking alternative depening on the opposition and Chelsea's need for a goal. With Christian Pulisic, Mason Mount and Kai Havertz struggling off the left when used there this season, the Ukraine international can therefore provide the consistency to aid Chelsea out wide. 

 

He did all he could to help Shakhtar progress in the Champions League 

 

Shakhtar were handed a tough Champions League draw in September as they were dropped into Group F alongside defending champions Real Madrid, German giants RB Leipzig and Scottish champions Celtic. Shakhtar smashed RB Leipzig 4-1 in Leipzig on matchday one, a result that cost Domenico Tedesco his job with the German side, but following this result; the Ukrainian side struggled. 

 

They failed to win their subsequent five matches, losing twice, but Mudryk did all he could to help his side. Indeed, of the eight group stage goals Shakhtar scored, the 22-year-old was involved in five, scoring three, as he showed he can prove to be both goalscorer and creator. 

 

The youngster is a determined winger 

 

What stands out about Mudryk is that he excites supporters. Take his Champions League strikes, his goal against Celtic in particular, fans have come to expect a moment of magic when he does get the ball in the final third. In this instance, he has the determination required to keep trying to get the better of his marker. 

 

Mudryk ranks seventh for total dribbles (34) in the Champions League this season, though only 10 of those have been successful. Nevertheless, even with 24 unsuccessful dribbles, the tricky winger is one who'll dust himself down and try and try again, and this willingness to never give up will certainly sit well with Chelsea fans. 

 

Opponents go to great lengths to limit his threat 

 

As with any wide forward, opponents will often target a team's main attacking threat with a means of containing said threat by any means necessary. Whether this is doubling up on an attacker or by reverting to other means, Mudryk is no exception. Considering he has three goals and two assists to his name across six Champions League appeatances, it's clear he has been Shakhtar's main threat in the competition. 

 

It's no shock, then, that Mudryk was fouled more times (9) than any other Shakhtar player in the group stages of Europe's elite club competition as opponents sought to minimise his impact. 

 

 

There are rough edges that need to be ironed out 

 

Unsurprisingly, as is the case with any young winger, Mudryk is still a little rough around the edges. There are elements to his game that need refining, notably when best to release the ball when he does carry possession forward. 

 

An 81.1% pass success rate from 22 passes per Champions League game isn't a poor return for any winger, but only Dinamo Zagreb forward Bruno Petkovic was dispossessed (27) more times than Mudryk (19) in the group stages. Provided Graham Potter is able to help Mudryk know when best to release the ball rather than seek to take on another opponent, then Chelsea will have a very effective winger on their hands.

Five key stats about Mykhailo Mudryk to excite Chelsea fans