Mykhailo Mudryk finally returns after 646 days, and his stats from his Tottenham debut say it all!
Mykhailo Mudryk made his much-anticipated comeback to competitive football on Saturday, playing for his new team Tottenham in a dull 0-0 draw against Nottingham Forest.
The 25-year-old winger joined Spurs on a season-long loan from Chelsea on deadline day and came on in the 74th minute, replacing Mathys Tel. Like a few of his teammates, Mudryk had a quiet game, with just four touches, one completed pass, and covering 2.4 km according to FotMob.
After the match, Tottenham’s coach Roberto De Zerbi admitted Mudryk still has a lot to work on. “He’s not ready yet,” he said. “He’s working on getting the best physical shape. He needs time and hard work.”
It was a tough afternoon for Tottenham, who are still looking for their first Premier League goal this season. In fact, they didn’t have a single shot on target in this game – their first time missing the target in a league match at the City Ground since April 2022. Even new signings Omar Marmoush, Savio, and Sandro Tonali couldn’t change that.
Tottenham’s lack of chances made it hard for Mudryk to make a difference. When asked if he was worried about not having any shots on target, De Zerbi said, “No. We could have scored three or four goals today. Sometimes it’s about making better decisions, but chances were there.”
Mudryk has had a rough spell, not playing a competitive game since Chelsea’s Europa Conference League match against Heidenheim earlier this year. After clearing up a doping case last month, he’s now looking to restart his career under De Zerbi, who once praised Mudryk as a player with huge potential.
Back in 2022, when Brighton were interested in signing him from Shakhtar, De Zerbi said, “Mudryk is a fantastic player, but Brighton can’t buy him. I like him, like all my former players, but Brighton can’t buy Mudryk.” He added, “I think Mudryk can win the Ballon d’Or someday. I know his value; he has that potential.”
A month later, De Zerbi again said Mudryk could win the Ballon d’Or but described him as “very sensitive” and in need of support. Speaking to La Repubblica, the Italian coach said, “Mykhailo has the potential for a great career. In my opinion, he can even win the Ballon d’Or. He’s a top player but also very sensitive. He needs affection. We’ll see if he lives up to his potential.”