Chelsea players annoyed Mudryk was allowed into the dressing room

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 20 Apr 2023 11:03 BST
• 3 min read

Mykhailo Mudryk’s arrival at Chelsea caused shockwaves around the Premier League – but also within the Stamford Bridge club, with Blues stars left furious with the way one aspect of the deal was handled.

Mudryk’s transfer from Shakhtar Donetsk to the Blues for an estimated upfront fee of €70 million was arguably the most eye-catching deal of the January transfer window given that they hijacked the move from neighbours Arsenal.

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It has proven to be a rocky arrival for the Ukraine international at his new club, with the winger boasting just two assists in his three months at Chelsea, during which time he has often found himself starting as a substitute, despite his massive transfer fee.

Even before Mudryk had officially joined the team, though, his presence was causing friction in the club.

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The Daily Mail reports that Chelsea stars were left dumbfounded when Mudryk was allowed into the dressing room prior to their victory over Crystal Palace in January.

He and a number of other individuals – considered to be part of his entourage – were allowed access into the locker room before the fixture, which left players fuming.

The Mail states: “The changing room area is widely viewed as a sacred place for players, particularly prior to kick-off when they are mentally preparing for matches, with strict rules over who is allowed into the space on matchdays.”

Boelhy comes from a background in American sports, where the locker room is a more open area, with players often being interviewed in the location.

He has, however, made several cultural errors since making the jump to the Premier League a month ago, even going into the changing rooms following the loss against Brighton and singling out one individual player for criticism.

Boelhy has also sacked two managers, Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter, while interim boss Frank Lampard has lost all four of his matches in charge to date without the team scoring.