da bwin: Mykhailo Mudryk finally has a first competitive goal for Chelsea, with Levi Colwill claiming the Ukrainian can become “one of the best in the world”.
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Big-money transfer completed in JanuaryEnd product in short supplyOn target in derby date with FulhamWHAT HAPPENED?
There have been glimpses of what the 22-year-old winger is capable of since his £89 million ($107m) transfer to Stamford Bridge in January, but end product has been in alarmingly short supply. There is no doubting his pace or willingness to run at opponents, but Chelsea have been crying out for attacking inspiration.
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Mudryk delivered on that front at the 24th time of asking when netting the opening goal in the Blues’ 2-0 derby victory over Fulham, with Colwill expecting shackles to now be shaken by the hottest of prospects. He has said of Mudryk: “He's a great player. He can be one of the best in the world. He's got everything you want as a winger and as a player. It's tough coming in from Ukraine to Chelsea. There's a lot of pressure that he may not have experienced, a different culture and other things together. It was always going to be tough to hit the ground running but in the first half he was amazing. I'm so happy for him, you could see in the celebrations. He deserved that. Everyone can see the qualities he has and we see it all the time in training. He's such a good player and to come here and bring it in the first half was amazing. Now it's about kicking on from here and, hopefully, he can build on it and become a great player.”
WHAT THEY SAID
Mudryk was replaced at half-time at Craven Cottage, with no risks being taken on a slight knock, and Mauricio Pochettino’s side battled their way to three much-needed points without him. Colwill added on being back in the winning habit: “It's been a tough start to the season. It was important to come here and get a win for the fans and celebrate with them after. We've played well in most games we've played so far this season, so to come here and get what we deserved is a good sign. Now we've got to build on it, we can't take it for granted. We have to go to Burnley with the same confidence, aggression and desire to get the win.”
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Chelsea remain in the bottom half of the Premier League table following their win over Fulham, with just eight points taken from seven games so far, and they are having to manage an unfortunate injury list that is preventing Pochettino from fielding the strongest side made up of recruits that have set the Blues back over £1 billion ($1.2bn).