Enzo Maresca Sends Warning To Mykhailo Mudryk After Losing Chelsea Place

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca — Mudryk has not started any league games this season (Picture: Getty Images)

Enzo Maresca says Chelsea fans may have to ‘accept’ the current version of Mykhailo Mudryk, urging the winger ‘do better’ to reclaim his place in the starting XI.

The Ukraine international joined the Blues from Shakhtar Donetsk in a deal that could rise to £89million but has shown little sign of fulfilling that immense promise in west London.

The 23-year-old has lost his place in the side under Maresca this season with his only starts coming in the Uefa Conference League play-off clash against Swiss side Servette.

He has been limited to just 56 minutes off the bench in the Premier League with the Blues head coach turning to other options. Chelsea have an embarrassment of riches in wide positions with Noni Madueke nailing down the role on the right as his own.

Jadon Sancho and Pedro Neto have been preferred on the left with Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku options out wide too.

Mudryk will hope to be handed a starting role when Chelsea take on Barrow in the Carabao Cup third round tonight.

Amid the winger’s continued struggles, Maresca has dismissed suggestions it could be down to a lack of confidence.

Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk — Mudryk has lot his place in the starting XI (Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Maresca told a press conference: ‘I don’t think it’s a lack of confidence. Misha is Misha.

‘You have to accept the way he is. Hopefully he can get minutes and do better.’

Ben Chilwell is another who could feature on Tuesday night. The left-back was told to leave Stamford Bridge during the summer transfer window but a move failed to materialise.

The former Leicester City trained away from the first-team during that period but was back among familiar faces at Cobham earlier this month.

‘Hopefully we can give him (Chilwell) some minutes,’ Maresca said. ‘The idea for him was to leave.