Frank Christian
After their loss to Liverpool in the Premier League, Chelsea bounced back with a convincing 4-1 victory against Panathinaikos in the UEFA Conference League.
Head coach Enzo Maresca utilized the match to give some lesser-used players a chance to shine, and they delivered well in Athens.
Joao Felix netted two goals, alongside one from Mykhailo Mudryk, and Christopher Nkunku scored from the penalty spot. Although Facundo Pellistri found the net for Panathinaikos, Chelsea controlled the game comfortably.
This win elevated Chelsea to the top of the Conference League standings, bringing them closer to securing a place in the knockout stage.
Mudryk stood out during the match, particularly impressive since he had only played one match in the Premier League this season. He contributed one goal and two assists, marking a total of four goal involvements across two Conference League matches.
Mudryk’s Emotion After Scoring Against Panathinaikos
Mudryk’s celebration caught the attention of fans on social media, as he directed his joy towards Maresca before celebrating together on the sidelines.
Many fans viewed Mudryk as the team’s standout player that evening. His performance was particularly notable given his hefty transfer fee of £62 million (around $70m) from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2023, which has raised expectations.
Enzo Maresca straight over to Mykhailo Mudryk to celebrate his first goal of the season. pic.twitter.com/Z8odfzL6vY
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) October 24, 2024
Post-match, Maresca expressed his delight for Mudryk, stating, “We’re very pleased with his progress.” He added, “We focus on guiding our players; he’s been working on getting into scoring positions, and he’s starting to succeed there. This applies not only to him but also to our other wingers like Pedro [Neto], Jadon [Sancho], and Noni [Madueke].”
“Mudryk’s growth might be slower than others, but we can see him getting better.”
