Chelsea left Matchday 2 of the 2024/25 Premier League season as the biggest winners, with hat-trick hero Noni Madueke and superstar Cole Palmer ruling the pitch against Wolves in a refreshing xG overperformance that yielded a 6-2 victory.
Even Pedro Neto got involved off the bench against his former employers, as he assisted fellow incoming Portuguese star Joao Felix in the 80th minute to put the cherry on top of a dream showing for Enzo Maresca following Matchday 1’s difficult defeat to Manchester City.
It was a banner day for the Chelsea attack, with Madueke scoring three and assisting one, Palmer bagging a goal and a hat-trick of assists, and even striker Nicolas Jackson nabbing a brace on the road.
However, left wing Mykhaylo Mudryk was the odd man out, as he was the lone attacker who did not shine and, in fact, played quite poorly. It is rare for a team to score six and to have an attacker who played woefully, but, well, such has been the plight of Mudryk since joining Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk.
The 100 million euro man completed just one dribble and did not even register a single key pass or shot on target in a match that Chelsea otherwise dominated, landing him even deeper in Maresca’s doghouse.
Maresca minced no words when discussing why he subbed Mudryk off at the half, with the move clearly coming to Chelsea’s benefit. And the new Chelsea manager’s quote on Mudryk seems to make a move away from Stamford Bridge, likely a loan, seem inevitable.
Said Maresca, “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.”
There is more than a chance that Maresca is so harsh on Mudryk because he does see the clear quality and positive traits in the Ukrainian winger, but, at the same time, that likely makes him even more frustrated at how inept the 23-year-old has looked once again this season in a Chelsea shirt.
With Madueke, Palmer, and even Jackson flying high right now, Chelsea are left with even fewer options with Mudryk, whose shocking lack of consistency is becoming untenable for a side with Champions League ambitions.
