Mykhailo Mudryk issues rallying message to teammates as Chelsea eye Real Madrid shock

Mykhailo Mudryk has outlined the ‘big opportunity’ which awaits the Chelsea squad after their 2-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion.

The 22-year-old was recalled to the Chelsea starting XI against Brighton and showed glimpses of promise throughout the game. 

His performance, despite the defeat, was rewarded with an assist when he played the ball to Conor Gallagher who bagged Chelsea’s opener in the 13th minute at Stamford Bridge. 

Saturday’s 2-1 defeat in the Premier League meant Chelsea have lost all three games under caretaker boss Frank Lampard. 

“I think the first half was not so good,” reflected Mudryk to the official Chelsea website following the defeat. “When in the second half we started to play, it was already late.

“For all of us it is a hard period but we never give up, we keep going and everything can change.”

Mudryk, who only joined in January from Shakhtar Donetsk, and Chelsea have won just 10 of their 31 Premier League games this season which sees them sat in 11th place.

“We all feel it,” Mudryk added. “We want to win but now it is hard for us but like I say, we keep training hard and one day everything can be changed.”

Their Champions League hopes for next season are hanging by a thread. Qualification via the Premier League is out of the question, while their chances of winning this season’s competitions are hanging by a thread.

Chelsea suffered a 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid on Wednesday at the Bernabeu in the first leg of their quarter-final tie, and the return leg awaits on Tuesday in west London.

Lampard’s side are down but not yet out. They’ve done the unexpected before but with the current state of affairs, overcoming a two-goal deficit against the current holders is a huge task.

Chelsea will give everything to try to progress into the semi-finals and Mudryk hasn’t given up. The Ukraine international highlights the opportunity Chelsea have, adding: “We are already thinking about the next game, the Champions League. It is a big opportunity for us and we should all show our best.”

On Wednesday night, Lampard concluded: “It’s an opportunity to try and turn something around.”

Chelsea are set for a boost with Kai Havertz hoped to be available after a knee injury. However, they will have to find alternative plans in defence due to Kalidou Koulibaly being ruled out with a hamstring injury.