Struggling Chelsea star Mykhailo Mudryk backed to win Ballon d'Or by Ukraine team-mate & Arsenal-linked Georgiy Sudakov

When Chelsea secured Mudryk's services for a substantial £89 million ($116.57m) fee, there was anticipation among the fans that he would hit the ground running and justify his massive transfer fee. However, his time at Stamford Bridge has been marred by inconsistency and underwhelming statistics as he has managed to find the back of the net just seven times in 58 appearances.

Despite Mudryk's struggles, Sudakov remains unwavering in his belief that his compatriot can reach the pinnacle of football. The Ukrainian midfielder has publicly expressed his confidence in Mudryk's abilities, stating that the winger has no ceiling to his potential.

“Mykhailo is an incredible player, he has no upper limit and he can win the Ballon d’Or with his qualities, but everything depends only on him,” he said in an interview with The Guardian.

"I believe he will be able to show his best qualities. Ukraine is an incredibly talented country and he is a great example for us to follow.”

Mudryk's journey at Chelsea has been punctuated by moments of brilliance, but those flashes have often been fleeting. In the Premier League opener against Manchester City, Mudryk showed glimpses of his potential, but his efforts ultimately fell short of making a significant impact and was ultimately taken off in the 77th minute.

With the arrival of Pedro Neto, the competition for starting spots in Chelsea's attacking lineup has intensified. Mudryk now faces the daunting task of proving his worth and securing his place in the team. The pressure is mounting and Mudryk must rise to the occasion if Enzo Maresca throws him into the mix against Servette in the Europa Conference League playoff at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.