Overall, the match against Gent showcased a largely positive performance from the Chelsea squad, but two players stood out for the wrong reasons, drawing sharp criticism from manager Enzo Maresca. Despite the victory, Maresca made no attempt to conceal his dissatisfaction with the performances of Mykailo Mudryk and Filip Jorgensen during Thursday’s clash.
The first player to receive Maresca’s frustration was Mykailo Mudryk. While the Ukrainian winger had his moments, including setting up a couple of key opportunities for his teammates, one of which led to Renato Veiga’s first goal for the club with a perfectly delivered cross, his overall performance was not without its flaws. According to Bobby Vincent of Football.London, there were moments where Mudryk’s decision-making and ball retention left much to be desired. In one instance, he was dispossessed far too easily on the wing after failing to protect the ball, an error that immediately drew a visible and vocal reaction from Maresca, who was seen shouting in frustration from the touchline, before turning away in anger.
This wasn’t the first time Maresca has publicly expressed his displeasure with Mudryk’s performance. The Chelsea manager has been seen berating the winger on the sidelines before, underscoring the high expectations he has for the player. However, despite these moments of tension, Maresca is likely to be overall satisfied with what he saw from Mudryk throughout the 90 minutes. The young winger, though inconsistent, did show flashes of the potential that has made him one of the most talked-about players in the squad.
But it wasn’t just Mudryk who found himself on the receiving end of Maresca’s exacting standards. At the final whistle, the Chelsea boss was also seen giving goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen a stern lecture on the pitch. It was a clear indication that Maresca demands perfection from his players, regardless of their position or the match result. Jorgensen had stepped in for Robert Sanchez, who had been under fire following a string of mistakes in Chelsea’s recent win over Brighton. While Jorgensen delivered a steady performance, he wasn’t particularly tested throughout the game. In fact, Gent’s two goals were largely unstoppable, giving the Danish goalkeeper no real chance to make a difference. Aside from those moments, Jorgensen had a quiet night, with little action to test his capabilities.
Despite the lack of activity, Jorgensen may have hoped for a busier evening, as he looks to challenge Sanchez for the coveted No. 1 spot in Chelsea’s Premier League lineup. For a goalkeeper, commanding the box and making critical saves can be the difference between securing a starting spot and remaining a backup, and Jorgensen’s relatively calm evening didn’t offer him many opportunities to showcase his talents. Nevertheless, with Sanchez’s recent errors casting doubt on his reliability, Jorgensen’s clean, if uneventful, performance may still put him in contention.
Following the game, Enzo Maresca spoke candidly about the need for improvement among certain players. While acknowledging the team’s overall solid performance, he also highlighted that there were areas where they fell short, particularly in how they conceded the second goal. Speaking to TNT Sports, Maresca said, “It was a good performance. It was a tough game, and we approached it very well. It’s a shame about the second goal we conceded—definitely avoidable. Every game is complicated, and we have many things we can do better—attack better, defend better.”
His comments made it clear that, despite the win, Maresca is a manager who will not settle for mediocrity. He expects more from his squad, even in victory. The Italian manager also made it known that just because a player features in one game doesn’t guarantee their spot in the next, leaving the door open for further rotation and competition within the squad. “The ones who play tonight, it doesn’t mean they won’t play the next game,” he stated, signaling that players will need to consistently prove their worth to secure regular minutes.
Interestingly, Maresca also took a moment to speak about Kiernan, another player who has struggled to adapt after moving to a big club like Chelsea. Maresca showed a more understanding side, acknowledging the difficulties that players face when transitioning from being a main figure at a smaller club to fitting into the structure of a larger team. “I know Kiernan very well,” Maresca said. “When you are the main player at a smaller club and then move to a big club, it’s not easy because you’re not the focal point anymore. Sometimes you struggle at the beginning, so I was very happy for him.”
Maresca’s ability to balance criticism with empathy reflects his complex managerial style. He is undoubtedly a perfectionist, demanding excellence from his players in every aspect of the game, but he also understands the emotional and mental challenges that come with playing for a top club like Chelsea. It is this balance that makes Maresca such a fascinating figure at Stamford Bridge—a coach who will push his players to their limits while also offering support when needed.
In the case of Mudryk and Jorgensen, both players will likely reflect on their performances against Gent with mixed feelings. For Mudryk, it was a game where moments of brilliance were overshadowed by lapses in concentration, while Jorgensen’s calm night in goal left him wanting more opportunities to prove his worth. Both players, however, remain part of Maresca’s long-term plans, and with continued development and the right mindset, they could still make significant contributions to Chelsea’s campaign. But as Maresca’s words and actions show, the road to success at Chelsea is anything but easy, and only those who can meet the Italian’s high standards will thrive unde
r his leadership.