Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca praised winger Mykhailo Mudryk after his match-winning performance in the 4-1 win over Panathinaikos.
Chelsea kept up their perfect start in the Conference League with Mudryk scoring the second goal with a brave header as well as setting up two goals for Joao Felix.
The £88m signing has not featured much in the Premier League under Maresca but showed glimpses of what he can bring to the team in Greece.
“We’re working with him and all the wingers,” said Maresca. “They need to arrive inside the box in the position where Misha scored. He’s struggled to arrive there, now he’s started to. That’s where we’re going to score goals.
“We want the best for Misha, since day one we’ve tried to help him. Probably he’s one of the guys that the learning process is more slow compared to the rest.
Misha gets on the scoresheet! 😍#CFC | #UECL pic.twitter.com/Qvqw7OJIh7
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 24, 2024
“But he’s improving. I’m sure that slowly, slowly we’re going to arrive where he will score more goals and to be more important for us.”
Felix also impressed, scoring twice and winning the penalty from which Christopher Nkunku clipped his eighth goal of the season.
Former Manchester United winger Facundo Pellistri tapped in a consolation, but despite making 11 changes from the side that lost to Liverpool, Chelsea’s dominance was never challenged.
“The most important thing is no matter how many players we change, you can see the identity of the team,” said Maresca. “The identity is quite clear.
“What we want is exactly what they’re doing; taking the chance when we give it to them. Tonight once again they showed that.”
Panathinaikos manager Diego Alonso reflected that his team has caused their own downfall.
“We played a good game for 22 minutes, then we made an error and it led to the first goal,” he said.
“In the second half we lost our concentration for 15 minutes and this was enough to let in three goals. This happens when you play against a top team of the Premier League. When you commit an error, you pay hard.”
