Forget the penalty controversy - Mudryk was AWFUL again against Italy

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 21 Nov 2023 11:17 GMT
• 3 min read

All the fallout from Italy’s qualification for Euro 2024 on Monday has been centered around the controversy of the penalty that wasn’t given against Mykhailo Mudryk.

With Ukraine versus Italy locked at 0-0 deep into injury time, Azzurri substitute Bryan Cristante stepped across Mudryk as the Chelsea winger shifted past him in the box.

Mudryk went to ground and Ukraine players and staff cried for a penalty. The referee and then the VAR decided otherwise.

As a result of this controversial incident, Italy qualified for Euro 2024 at the expense of Ukraine, who must now navigate the difficult playoffs in order to make it to Germany themselves.

Mudryk has been painted by the media and social media - and many Chelsea fans - as a brilliant performer on the night who was robbed by the referee from taking his nation to the Euros.

The truth is that - just like in almost every other game he has played in 2023 - Mudryk endured another terrible game for his team.

He lost the ball on countless occasions during the game, overrunning the ball, miscontrolling it, running into trouble and picking the wrong option.

He completed only one of his five attempted dribbles, and won only one of his seven ground duels. He lost the ball 20 times and had a pass accuracy of 73 per cent.

Mudryk missed Ukraine’s best chance of the game when Giovanni Di Lorenzo horribly misjudged a throw on, but his left foot shot at the back post was weak and saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Earlier in the game, Mudryk lost the chance of having another big opportunity when he left the ball roll under his foot.

He was guilty of a number of blatant dives or theatrics, which probably ended up working against him on the penalty incident right at the end.

Mudryk was certainly unlucky on this penalty incident at the end but don’t let that cloud his overall performance.

Anyone who actually watched the game, rather than a 60 second ‘best bits’ compilation made by a Chelsea fan on Twitter, will tell you that this was another dismal showing from Mudryk.

He remains far from being Chelsea material right now.

Mudryk form at Chelsea

Mudryk joined Chelsea for €100 million in January after the Blues hijacked Arsenal's deal for the Ukrainian winger.

However, Mudryk has flopped badly at Stamford Bridge.

He has managed just one goal and two assists in 28 appearances amidst a string of poor performances.

Mudryk’s poor form resulted in him dropping down the attacking pecking order, with manager Mauricio Pochettino publicly stating that the player still must improve in a number of areas.