'He needs to understand…' – Pochettino explains how his £88m 'pet project' can improve

Nizaar Kinsella has today published a very interesting piece on Mykhailo Mudryk the winger who continues to struggle at Chelsea following a big money move over a year ago.

He was one of the main culprits in last week’s extra time capitulation to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final. He came on and looked like a rabbit in the headlights, touching the ball just 10 times in an extra time period where his team were desperate for some direct attacking play.

Kinsella explains that Pochettino sees improving Mudryk as a “pet project,” and the manager’s words in the presser yesterday certainly reveal him have spotted plenty of issues in the winger’s game:

“He has an amazing talent but needs to understand that he needs to play football, and football is a collective sport; you need to put your talent in service of the team,” Pochettino said. “At this level, you need to work with and without the ball.”

One would hope that an £88m signing would arrive already knowing that one needs to work as a team. But it’s too late to complain about the fee now, we just have to hope that the coach can get something more out of his project.