Since signing for big money in January, Mykhailo Mudryk's Chelsea career has failed to hit the heights many hoped and anticipated. After being an unused substitute for the Blues' back-to-back wins against Leeds United and Borussia Dortmund, the Ukraine international did return to Graham Potter's starting line-up against Leicester, where he grabbed his first assist for the club.
However, while his own progress may have stagnated as he continues to adapt to the English game, former Liverpool player Dietmar Hamann believes his arrival has benefitted one of his attacking teammates. Kai Havertz has faced heavy criticism this season due to a lack of goals to help arrest his side's struggles.
Often playing as an unorthodox striker, the German was frequently made a scapegoat for Chelsea's barren spell in front of goal. But Hamann believes things have begun to look up for his compatriot as the goalscoring burden is no longer placed solely at Havertz's door.
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When asked how crucial Havertz could be in keeping Potter in a job, Hamann told BestGamblingSites: "I think Havertz has been fantastic. What helps him is Mudryk being at the club now because he takes a bit of pressure and weight off his shoulders because he's got another player who can create something and he's such a smart player.
"He has played as a centre forward at times, which is probably not his preferred role, but he can play there. And with him I just feel that he doesn't know how good he is because for me, he's one of the best in the world.
"It may sound harsh saying this because he scored a winner in a Champions League final and he has done well for Chelsea, but I just feel he could do so much more because that's how good he is.
"In the last few weeks he's really come to the fore and, you know, maybe he's adapted more to the club. He's a fantastic player."
Havertz previously admitted the pressures that came with a lack of good fortune on the pitch negatively affected both his personal life and relationships with loved ones. “Football is our life. If you lose a game, of course you don’t have an easy life as well,” he said. “I think everyone at home, especially my girlfriend, has had some tough weeks as well in the last weeks and months. I think she is happy now again and so am I.
“For you guys, it is the same – if you have a bad day at work… you… I won’t say the word now but you don’t feel good. Football is a game where we have a lot of pressure on our shoulders.
“We want to make the fans happy and if you don’t make them happy, then you don’t have a good time. Winning is always the best, we won again, so we can enjoy some days.”
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