CHELSEA
VANGELIS STAMATOPOULOS 04.02.2024 | 12:51
Mauricio Pochettino on the Chelsea bench for Premier League game against Liverpool | January 31, 2024 @2024 JON SUPER/AP IMAGES
The €103m Chelsea spent on Mikael Mundrick is not enough to convince Pochettino to hand him a first-team jersey, with the Argentine sending a clear message to his player if he wants to play more.
Mikael Mundrick cost Chelsea more than €100 million when they signed him in January 2023, but in his 12 months at Stamford Bridge, he hasn’t paid off in the slightest.
Proof of the only 4 goals he has scored in 41 appearances in all competitions as well as the fact that he has not won a starting shirt as evidenced by his only appearances in the initial formation of the blues in this year’s Premier League.
“He was a starter in the semi-final against Middlesbrough, which was one of the most important games for us. Yes, he’s on the bench now. It’s about form during the season, you have to keep your form and try to be the best during every workout.
As a coaching team, we look to have a meritocracy. We put the footballers who give their best on the pitch to play,” said Mauricio Pochettino in a related question about the 23-year-old Ukrainian international winger, adding meaningfully:
“I think Mudric is a young kid who came here a year ago. We know the circumstances surrounding the transfer. Of course he needs to improve. He has amazing quality and potential but football is a team sport, it’s not tennis.
We have players who will have to perform within the set. If you see him, he’s awesome, but he’ll have to adapt and play for the team. He needs to adapt and that takes time.”