Chelsea star Mykhailo Mudryk’s torrid start to the season hasn’t been helped by the fact Mauricio Pochettino prefers to play a left-back ahead of him in midfield

Mykhaylo Mudryk has had a torrid start to the season (Image: Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Mauricio Pochettino trusts Ben Chilwell ahead of Mykhailo Mudryk at left-wing, according to reports.

Chelsea fans have been left confused in the opening weeks of the season after seeing left-back Chilwell operate slightly further up the pitch, despite the club’s plethora of more forward-minded players. With the 26-year-old playing on the left side of midfield, Levi Colwill has dropped in behind at left-back.

Given Chelsea’s not-so-prolific record front of goal, some fans have found it odd to have an extra defender on the pitch when that position could go to an attack-minded star like Mudryk. However, according to reports in The Athletic, there’s a method behind the madness.

They report that Chilwell has been preferred on the left because he can be trusted to follow Pochettino’s orders and make the right movements at the right times, both on and off the ball.

Where that leaves Mudryk is anyone’s guess, with the 22-year-old looking totally shot of confidence this season. The Ukrainian star hasn’t made the desired impact since his £88.5m move from Shakhtar Donetsk in January, save an impressive debut performance.

Mudryk has found opportunities even more limited so far this term. He has been restricted to just substitute appearances under Pochettino, playing only 67 minutes in Chelsea’s opening four Premier League games.

Mauricio Pochettino appears to fancy Ben Chilwell over Mudryk at left-wing (Image: Getty Images)

He appears tactically lost in the Argentine’s system, which is threatening to suffocate Mudryk’s Chelsea career before it has gotten going.

The youngster came under fire from former Premier League star Gabby Agbonlahor last week, who claimed the star was “useless” in Chelsea’s recent defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Chilwell has been preferred on the left (Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)

“They’ve bought loads of players who are average. Mudryk came on and he nearly gave away two goals! He was absolutely useless. He’s had 19 games, zero goals and they haven’t got a style of play,” he said.

Mudryk and Chelsea will have their next chance to impress on Sunday when they take on AFC Bournemouth.