Chelsea Manager Mauricio Pochettino strongly believes Mykhailo Mudryk, will be fit for a weekend clash with Burnley despite as the Ukrainian was forced off against Fulham.
Mudryk opened the goal scoring against Fulham which as also his Chelsea first goal since his big-money January move from Shakhtar Donetsk.
Armando Broja also notched on his first start since rupturing his ACL in a mid-season friendly against Aston Villa last December.
Broja went down in the second half at Craven Cottage, sparking fears of a setback as he went off, but later said that the move was merely precautionary.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Broja said:
“No injury – just a precaution.”
Mudryk, meanwhile, was replaced by Ian Maatsen at half-time on Monday, with Pochettino subsequently confirming a thigh issue.
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Pochettino said:
“I hope with Mykhailo it’s not a big issue, because he felt something in the first half.”
“I hope it is nothing and he’ll be available for Saturday.
It’s something in his quad in the first half. He didn’t feel comfortable playing.
“We got what we deserved. The performance was very good. I am pleased for Mudryk and for Armando.
For Mykhailo because he scored his first goal in the Premier League and for Armando after a long period out, to score again.”
Speaking about why Mudryk may have taken 24 appearances to notch his first Chelsea goal, Pochettino said:
“It’s about maturity, adaptation. When you arrive in a team, it’s not easy to settle because, being honest, [we have] too many young players so it’s not solid.
“This is difficult, but it’s about patience. It’s about trusting these guys. It’s a massive job, step by step. We need to keep improving.
“I’m so happy for the players. He has played [consistently this season] because he deserved to.
He showed in the training sessions that he deserved to.”
Moises Caicedo also appeared to pick up a knock to his knee deep in stoppage time,
though he joined the rest of the squad as they applauded the away fans after the match, and Pochettino says the club cannot get bogged down by their injury crisis.
Asked for an update on the club-record signing after the match, Pochettino said:
“Hope also is nothing wrong but it was a contusion.”
‘When you have so many injuries like us the results can be affected. Of course for us also it’s affected but I think we try not to put that as an excuse.
‘We tried to make the people believe, and everyone is important in the squad,
but I think the moment we are complete and we have all players ready and fit, I think we are going to be so competitive.
‘It’s an amazing squad and very talented, it’s only a matter of time. But it’s so important for us to feel the victory and the three points to build our confidence for the next week.’
