Mykhailo Mudryk could potentially become a key player in Enzo Maresca's Chelsea system(Image: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

The Enzo Maresca decision that could finally provide Chelsea with their Mykhailo Mudryk answer

Enzo Maresca and Chelsea will be hoping to get the very best out of Mykhailo Mudryk next season going on the key role wingers played in the Italian's Leicester City team

07 Jun 2024, 05:00 by Rob Guest · football.london

The 2024/25 season is a huge one in the career of Mykhailo Mudryk as he attempts to star for Chelsea in the Premier League. Earning rave reviews in his time with Shakhtar Donetsk before sealing a big-money move to Stamford Bridge in January 2023, it has just not quite happened for the player in England just yet.

Having only contributed with two assists in the first few months of his Chelsea career, last season the 23-year-old again registered two assists but this time he had seven goals to go along with them. Five of those came in the Premier League for the left-sided ace, with a goal apiece in both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

Mudryk was very much in and out of the Chelsea team in the Premier League, starting 18 of his 31 outings and averaging a rather poor 50.9 minutes an appearance. Now the player will be looking to make the left-wing berth his very own under the guidance of new head coach Enzo Maresca.

What could potentially help the player going into the new term is a big summer at Euro 2024 with Ukraine. In Group E containing Belgium, Slovakia and Romania, Mudryk is going to be a central figure in his country's attempt to reach the knockout phase of the competition and go far in Germany.

If indeed that is the case and he plays a telling role along the way, that could play into Maresca and Chelsea's hands come August if the winger is full of confidence and at the top of his game. While the Italian will have a large chunk of his squad to work with at Cobham at the start of July despite Euro 2024 and the Copa America taking place, Mudryk is one of a handful of players with question marks over when exactly they will return from tournament football.

That means he could potentially only have a few weeks with Maresca in Chelsea pre-season training prior to the new campaign kicking off. Much is going to be expected of the Blues wingers next season going on what the new head coach managed to get out of his Leicester City wide men last term.

Abdul Fatawu and Stephy Mavididi were pivotal in Leicester's promotion push as they chipped in with goals and assists aplenty. For right-winger Fatawu, the Ghanaian ace registered seven goals and 13 assists in his debut season in England.

On the opposite side of the pitch, Mavididi also proved to be a revelation in his first year for the Foxes with 13 goals and six assists. A player blessed with pace and skill, what was noticeable about the ex-Arsenal youngster was his tendency to cut inside and get shots away on goal using his right foot.

That was evident in a top-of-the-table clash against fellow promotions winners Ipswich Town back in December as he came inside and found the bottom corner with a terrific curling effort that opened the scoring. Mudryk himself plays from the left flank and is right-footed, thus possibly giving Maresca a potent weapon like Mavididi that he will want to take full advantage of.

Boasting some excellent options in the wide areas last term, the same goes for the Italian at Chelsea coming into the 2024/25 campaign with Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, Raheem Sterling, Christopher Nkunku, Omari Hutchinson and Mudryk on the books. There could even be Michael Olise to throw into the mix with Chelsea tipped to battle Manchester United for the Crystal Palace star's signature.

Maresca's wingers at Leicester were prominent players in his system and that will also apply to him at Chelsea come the start of the 2024/25 season. Going on what the 44-year-old extracted from Fatawu and Mavididi last term, he will be looking to do exactly the same at Stamford Bridge ahead of his debut season in the hotseat.

Mudryk should only be better from having another year of Premier League experience under his belt and all will have their fingers crossed that the appointment of Maresca takes him to new levels altogether in 2024/25.

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