Mudryk needs to be treated like Vinicius Jr, says former coach

Jacque Talbot

Updated: 13 Sep 2024 03:43 CDT
4 min read

Mykhailo Mudryk, Chelsea, 2024/25 — © IMAGO

Yuriy Benyo has urged Mykhaylo Mudryk to try and get out of Chelsea, saying that he needs to be treated like Vinicius Junior.

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The Shakhtar Donetsk assistant coach worked with Mudryk at the Ukrainian club and he opened up to Tribuna about the youngster's current form and future.

Mudryk has so far failed to live up to expectations at Chelsea following his €70m move in January last year.

Despite being given plenty of opportunities, Mudryk has struggled to find form, even under several managers.

The most outspoken of which is the current Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, has picked the 23-year-old in two of the last three opening Premier League matches.

But Maresca has even admitted publicly that Mudryk is not doing well enough on the pitch. In the Blues' 6-2 win over Wolves, the attacker was substituted at half-time after an abysmal first-half performance.

© IMAGO - Enzo Maresca has been brutally honest about the winger

The head coach said after the game: "[He was taken off] because I was not happy.

"In some moments we can manage some situations better. He was working hard off the ball but on the ball, I expect a bit more quality from Misha. He had some good moments today but the reason why was to change it and give Pedro [Neto[ some minutes."

Mudryk is like Vinicius Junior

But Benyo has claimed that any coach working with Mudryk needs to use his best qualities.

“Mudryk is like Vinicius in Real Madrid. He also does not work so hard on defence," he said.

“Jovi and I always have a philosophy that a player’s strengths should be used as best as possible, and weaknesses should not be visible. This means that they have to be compensated by other players. This is the essence of football, that it is a team game.

Current ETV

Mykhaylo Mudryk

M, AM (L)

Chelsea

Mykhaylo Mudryk

M, AM (L)

Chelsea

ETV Range

€29.9M - €49.7M

“He is in such a situation that he cannot even leave. There is a constant rotation of coaches. Every coach who comes sees his talent and tries to use it, but when it comes to the game, his weak side becomes noticeable – playing without the ball, playing on defence, in pressing.

“If there was a coach who would work at Chelsea for at least two years, and he really wouldn’t count on Mudryk, then it’s better to leave. Misha is such a player that it is easier for him to play when there is trust. It is very specific.”