Pochettino has been building Mudryk's 'belief' with crossbar challenge

09/27/2023 Soccer

Mauricio Pochettino reveals he’s been building Mykhailo Mudryk’s ‘belief’ with a crossbar challenge contest – but admits he kept beating the £88m winger

  • Mykhailo Mudryk has struggled to live up to expectations since joining Chelsea 
  • Pochettino has now revealed his unique method to building the winger’s ‘belief’ 
  • Mail Sport’s new WhatsApp Channel: Get the breaking news and exclusives here 

Mauricio Pochettino has revealed that he’s building Mykhailo Mudryk’s confidence by competing in a crossbar challenge contest at training. 

The Ukrainian winger has struggled to live up to expectations since joining the west London outfit in a deal worth £88million during the January transfer window. 

In his 22 appearances appearances for the Blues, the 22-year-old has failed to find the back of the net and has only picked up two assists in the process.

In a bid to build the winger’s ‘belief’, Pochettino has revealed the new training method that he believes can help bring the best out of Mudryk.  

Speaking on the winger’s confidence, the Blues boss revealed: ‘You know how it works in the brain. It is about, little by little, creating situations that can provide trust, confidence and belief.

Mykhailo Mudryk has struggled to live up to expectations since joining Chelsea for £88million

Mauricio Pochettino (L) has revealed that he’s been challenging the winger in a crossbar contest in a bid to build the Ukrainian’s confidence

‘One example… today, with Mudryk, I like to play hitting the crossbar from outside the box. But he said to me, “No, I’m not going to play anymore with you because always you win”.

‘I said, “Yes, because I have the belief. The balance in between belief and quality I know very well because I am 51 and you are still young. You need to still know yourself”.

The winger has failed to nail down a starting spot in Pochettino’s Chelsea side this term, starting just two of their opening five league games, but the Argentine boss is confident that the Ukrainian is improving. 

‘Today was the first time we drew in the challenge,’ Pochettino continued.

‘Now, you start to believe in yourself, you start to believe in your quality because, if not, it is not a good balance between belief and quality.

‘It is difficult. That is important. It is one aspect of how you work on the psychology of the player and how you can make the difference and provide him with the confidence afterwards to touch the ball and score rather than to go outside or inside. It’s a small example.’

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The 22-year-old is yet to find the back of the net since making the move to west London

Chelsea have struggled in front of goal this year and have failed to score a single goal during the month of September.

‘Confidence in one aspect is to score goals. We need to be more natural’, Pochettino said.

‘To create chances, it’s not only about your positional game, your movement, if you play with one or two strikers, or different characteristics of the game, the most important thing is to be natural.

‘We have been talking a lot in the last two days and we are going to work hard and remain positive’.

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