Chelsea tell Mykhailo Mudryk to ‘tone down’ his gym workouts after training amid concerns the £88m flop is ‘overdoing it’ as he tries to find form after just eight starts and zero goals since joining

Chelsea have warned Mykhailo Mudryk to tone down his gym work over concerns the winger is overdoing his intense training regimen, reports show.

The Ukraine international – who was signed by the club for a fee that could exceed a further £88 million (€100 million) during the January transfer window – is said to be subjecting himself to rigorous training in an effort to maintain his fitness and keep up form. recapture him brought him to Stamford Bridge.

After coming face to face with Shakhtar Donetsk, Mudryk was pursued by a number of top clubs, with Arsenal being the most persistent candidates, before Chelsea set out to sign the 22-year-old.

But since moving to west London, Mudryk has struggled with minutes and appearances in the blue. He registered just eight starts under four different managers during the 2022–23 season and the start of Chelsea’s 2023–24 season.

While many clubs are keen to reward dedication to their players’ fitness programmes, Mudryk’s hard work off the pitch is becoming a concern behind the scenes at Cobham.

Chelsea allegedly told Mykhailo Mudryk to tone down his intensive gym work

The player often trains more than is necessary to improve his fitness and form

The West London club shared footage of the player training on their pre-season tour

From the AthleticsMudryk’s dedication is such that he visits gyms outside the club to do extra work and keep up with Chelsea’s high standards.

A source said: ‘He will do whatever Chelsea ask of him in terms of training, but will always find time for extra work in the gym. Players notice that he is involved.’

They also urged patience for the player’s development, adding, “He wants to get better. People should leave him alone. He’s a nice boy.’

While Chelsea may have cautioned the player about whether he might be overworking himself, little has changed since his days with Shakhtar, where he also favored heavy weight training and powerlifting.

Mudryk works with his personal trainer Dima Chapovskyi — who regularly shares videos of gym sessions on his Instagram account — in an effort to build his stamina and physical readiness.

Notably, despite his lack of playing time, Mudryk is one of the fastest players in the league, with his team-mate Wesley Fofana calling him the fastest player he has played against – faster even than his French compatriot Kylian Mbappé.

But under new manager Pochettino he has had little to do this season. Hopes for a strong start were hampered by a minor calf injury that ruled him out as Chelsea faced Luton in their 3–0 home win.

Mudryk’s lackluster start at Stamford Bridge can be partly attributed to external factors, with the player previously saying he calls his parents in Ukraine every day to keep up to date with their lives in the war-torn country.

His arrival in West London against the backdrop of an influx of new players and a revolving door of managers may have had a further impact on his ability to establish himself and develop at his new club.

The 22-year-old has had a rocky start in West London, registering no goals and just two assists since taking office in January

Despite the turbulence of his first season, both his teammates and the manager have vigorously appraised his talents.

Ben Chillwell said he believes Mudryk has ‘endless potential’ that has yet to be fulfilled, while Pochettino hailed the Ukrainian as a huge talent and urged him to build continuity in training.

“He is a young player and a player with a lot of talent” said the head coach. “I think he has to build continuity and confidence (with his teammates), work hard in training during the week and continue to show that he is ready to perform.

“We need to build that trust with him and he needs to build it with us as part of the team, as it does with many of our younger players.”