"Isn't a footballer", "Should never step into the pitch again till season ends" - Chelsea fans slam star after 2-2 draw against Aston Villa
Chelsea fans were critical of forward Mykhailo Mudryk's performance in his side's 2-2 draw against Aston Villa on Saturday (April 27). The Blues showed great spirit to recover from a two-goal deficit and pick up a point despite a few disappointing individual performances.
Mauricio Pochettino's young side endured a 5-0 thrashing against Arsenal on April 23 and faced another high-flying side immediately after. As has been the case for most games this season, they were without a good number of key players for the game at Villa Park.
Pochettino opted to have Mudryk start a second successive game despite failing to impress against Arsenal. The Ukraine international once again played on the periphery, struggling to impact the game in any way.
Mudryk lasted 89 minutes due to a lack of attacking options on the bench for the Blues, with academy star Tyrique George the only like-for-like player among the substitutes. He had two out of five successful dribbles and won three out of his eight ground duels.
Mudryk was eventually replaced by midfielder Cesare Casadei, as Pochettino sought a late winner from his side
Chelsea fans were largely disappointed by the display of the 23-year-old, and they made their feelings known via X.
Mudryk was the subject of extensive criticism from the fans.
"Mudryk it might be overđź’”"
"Mudryk is a truly terrible footballer there's no way this guy develops into anything resembling a world class player"
"How much did Mudryk cost again? Dreadful footballer."
"Mudryk is probably the least intelligent footballer I have ever seen."
Chelsea managed to pick up a draw at Villa Park and came close to winning the game, with a VAR intervention denying them a late winner.
Chelsea dent Aston Villa's top-four hopes with impressive comeback
With the 2-2 draw at Villa Park, Chelsea hampered Aston Villa's hopes of ending up in one of the UEFA Champions League spots. The result leaves Unai Emery's side seven points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who have played three games less.
The Blues looked set for home and away defeats to Villa for the first time in league football since 1990 when Marc Cucurella diverted the ball into his own goal in the fourth minute. They scored the equalizer through Nicolas Jackson but the VAR denied them before the Senegalese struck the upright.
Villa doubled their advantage against the run of play at the end of the first half, putting their opponents in trouble. Chelsea responded well in the second half through goals from Noni Madueke (62') and Conor Gallagher (81'), and could have had a winner from Axel Disasi were it not for VAR.
The Blues remain in ninth place in the Premier League, seven points shy of sixth-placed Manchester United.