Explained: Why Chelsea are still going ‘very slowly’ with £89m winger Mykhailo Mudryk as Mauricio Pochettino sets Ukraine international another challenge

The Blues had hoped to see the jet-heeled forward become an immediate success at Stamford Bridge, with rival interest from Arsenal having been fended off in order to put a big-money transfer deal in place.

Mudryk has, however, struggled for form throughout his time in English football – with the 22-year-old still waiting on his first competitive goal. Mauricio Pochettino has full faith in the youngster, as he brings different qualities to his young squad, but admits that an adapation process will take time.

Pochettino has said of bringing out the best in Mudryk, who arrived in the Premier League from Shakhtar Donetsk: “The life of these guys, when they are so young, (it) changed. You pay big money, big change form where they came. Also it’s not about to arrive and to perform when you are young. It’s about to adapt, it’s about to help them to settle. Then the most difficult thing is to understand what these guys need to settle and to feel comfortable and to express their talent. If you ask me about Misha, he’s a very talented player of course, but you need to go with him very slowly. Cultural and everything is completely different to Latin people, from different countries or part of the world. He’s now trying to be more open, to adapt and be more involved in every situation, not only on the field but outside also. I think he’s doing a massive effort to try to integrate himself and to understand better what it means to play like a team. He’s unique. I can’t find a player to say he is similar, I can’t remember one. It’s a good challenge for him, and it’s a good challenge for us.”

Mudryk has started Chelsea’s last three games, as they search for a collective spark in an underwhelming start to the 2023-24 campaign, and the Blues will be back in action on Monday when taking in a derby date with west London neighbours Fulham.