It wasn’t a vintage performance, but Chelsea managed to get the job done and pick up all three points against Benfica on Tuesday night.
José Mourinho was denied a fairytale return to Stamford Bridge as Enzo Maresca’s side ran out 1-0 winners and picked up their first points in the Champions League this season.
There were some impressive showings from the likes of Pedro Neto, who was a constant threat out wide, and even Robert Sanchez, who made several saves to keep his side in the game early on.
However, there were also some underwhelming ones, especially from one recent signing who is starting to show shades of Mykhailo Mudryk.
Mudryk's Chelsea nightmare
Back in January 2023, the Chelsea fan base was ecstatic at the £89m signing of Mudryk from Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk.
After all, here was a player London rivals Arsenal were seemingly desperate to sign, and they’d just managed to nab him from right under their noses.
Moreover, in the winger’s first game for the club, when he came off the bench at Anfield, he looked electric, constantly beating his opposite number for pace and with brilliant close control.
In fact, it was such an impressive debut from the young dynamo that Gary Neville claimed that he “wouldn’t like to play against him!”
However, that short cameo against the Reds was as good as it got for the 24-year-old that season, as he ended the campaign with just two assists to his name in 17 appearances for the Blues, and with fans and pundits alike questioning his ability.
Things didn’t get much better for the international ace the following season, as in 41 appearances, he scored seven goals and provided four assists, which isn’t anywhere near good enough for someone who cost as much as he did.
Then, in October of last season, as if he wasn’t getting enough stick, Maresca told the press that he was a “slow” learner, which only lends credence to Jason Cundy’s claim that he “doesn’t have football IQ.”
Appearances
73
Minutes
3612′
Goals
10
Assists
11
Goal Involvements per Match
0.28
Minutes per Goal Involvement
172′
Unfortunately, things somehow got even worse for the player and the club as he was provisionally suspended after failing a drugs test in December, and was then charged by the FA in June, which could see him handed a four-year ban.
In all, Mudryk has to go down as one of Chelsea’s worst-ever signings, and while there isn’t anybody else in the squad facing quite the same magnitude of issue he is, there is someone who is looking as ineffective on the pitch.
The Chelsea player who could be another Mudryk
So, while there are a few players who are flattering to deceive at Chelsea this season, only one can be compared to Mudryk.
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Unfortunately for him, that player is Jamie Gittens, who arrived at the club from Borussia Dortmund for around £48m this summer.
Now, it should be said that, as he is still young and showed glimpses of real brilliance here and there last season, there is every chance he could come good and flourish in West London.
However, as things stand, and most Blues fans will attest, he has looked miles off the pace this season.
For example, the Englishman has made six appearances so far, three of which have been starts, and he’s yet to score or assist a goal.
Appearances
6
Starts
3
Minutes
244
Goals
0
Assists
0
Moreover, it’s not as if he’s been up against world-class opposition every game, as he started against Lincoln City last week and was so bad that he failed to have even one shot on target against the League One side.
It was more of the same when he came on against Benfica on Tuesday, as even though he had over 30 minutes to make some sort of impact against the Portuguese side, he looked as lost as he has in every other game.
It’s the way in which he loses the ball, makes the wrong decisions and generally brings attacks to an end that makes it impossible to ignore the Mudryk comparisons.
On top of that, the displays have been so subpar that the fans already seem to be losing patience, with one content creator describing him as “shockingly bad.”
Minutes
29′
Expected Assists
0.01
Shots on Target
0
Dribbles (Successful)
3 (1)
Touches
16
Lost Possession
8
Accurate Passes
3/5
Key Passes
0
Duels (Won)
8 (4)
Crosses (Accurate)
1 (0)
While it sounds harsh, that’s not really an overreaction to his display against Jose’s side, as he failed in two of three dribbles, misplaced 100% of his crosses, lost 50% of his duels, lost the ball with every other touch and completed just three passes in total.
Ultimately, Gittens might still come good for Chelsea, but at the moment, he looks more likely to be another Mudryk-esque winger.