Big-money Chelsea signing Mykhailo Mudryk's struggles in front of goal continued in their 2-0 win over Sheffield United with one effort gaining unwanted attention.
Mykhailo Mudryk "summed up his Chelsea career" with a long-range shot that was closer to the corner flag than the Sheffield United goal.
The Blues were looking to make a breakthrough in the first half at Stamford Bridge on Saturday (December 16) afternoon when Mudryk, 22, cut in from the left and found space roughly 30 yards out.
He let fly with a wayward effort which skewed away from the target and bounced out for a goal kick past the 18 yard box. Chelsea fans felt it encapsulated his time at Stamford Bridge since his £88.5million arrival in January.
One bemoaned: "Mudryk attempts a shot that almost hits the corner flag." Another argued: "That shot is where MM is at right now he needs so much development."
A third commented: "Sums up his Chelsea career so far." And a fourth echoed: "That sums up Mudryk, great bit of dribbling then puts it out near the corner flag with a shot."
"That dribble and shot in the 21st minute defines Mudryk. Ability to get past players but shoots at a stupid position that goes corner flag," wrote a fifth, while a sixth added: "The most Mudryk thing ever. He is balling today though."
No thanks to Mudryk, the hosts racked up an xG of just 0.10 in a goalless opening 45 minutes, despite boasting 80% possession. They enjoyed a far better second half though.
Cole Palmer opened the scoring less than 10 minutes after the restart before turning provider to Nicolas Jackson, who doubled the lead. Palmer could've had another assist too, but Armando Broja spurned a golden chance late on.
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino explained the tactical tweaks he made at the break to turn the tide, saying post-match: "We made a mistake because we were standing still too much in our positions.
"We did not show the capacity to be flexible. It was easy for them to identify our positions and to block us and to make us put the ball in the positions that were them easy to stop.
"We swapped and then the position of our midfielders and full-backs. In the second half I think we fixed different positions and started to find different possibilities with the ball and stretch the line with Raheem [Sterling] and Jackson going into the space."
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