Mikhail Mudryk, Cesare Casadei and David Washington are among the players claiming to play a bigger role in
Chelsea’s rise over the remainder of the season. The Blues still have a lot to fight for,
despite fan concerns that have become evident in recent weeks. Mauricio Pochettino’s side will travel to Wembley next month to face
Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final, looking to make up for their disappointing League Cup final against Liverpool in February.
Thanks to the championship, there is still a chance to guarantee European football next season.
Chelsea are five points behind seventh-placed West Ham, with two games in hand between their London rivals.
They are in the middle of the standings and are still fighting for a spot in the Europa League,
with just one more win and they could move up to 8th place. But to make the most of what has been a disappointing campaign so far,
they will need to show the consistency they have not had thus far. Pochettino will therefore be keen to work on his team as a whole,
with many key players still injured. Madryk is among the players hoping to be on the main roster more consistently.
He has been used centrally from time to time in recent weeks, showing a new side to his game.
He was sent off earlier than Stamford Bridge fans would have expected in last Sunday’s 4-2 win over Leicester, but his honesty on the ball left an impression.
Now that he is done representing his country during the final international break of the season,
Mudryk has shown what he can do by returning to his more natural role as a left winger.
At the kick-off of Ukraine’s Euro 2024 qualifier in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mudryk dropped deep to win the ball,
opened his weak right foot and sent a cross pass to his teammate before watching his country equalize.
Mudryk wasn’t the only one trying to get the head coach’s attention during the break.
Cassady spent the first half of the season on loan at Leicester before being recalled to Chelsea in January.
The Italian youngster returned to Cobham as additional cover in midfield due to injuries to Leslie Ugochukwu and Romeo Lavia.
Even if Casady’s goal was good, Washington, back at Cobham, had a chance to stand out with an even better goal in training.
The teenager was on the fringes of Pochettino’s team but took advantage of being left out when he took to the grass at the Surrey complex.
Even though Washington was not in a competitive environment, Washington’s actual goal was still achievement.
Washington jumped into the air to catch Blues teammate Eddie Veach’s shot, deftly crossed the ball and sent a shot over the crossbar.
