Mudryk and Armando Broja found the target as Chelsea secured their second victory of the campaign in style.
Mauricio Pochettino had nothing but praise for winger Mykhailo Mudryk after he notched his inaugural goal for Chelsea in Monday night's West London derby.
Since joining from Shakhtar Donetsk in January, the Ukrainian winger had yet to deliver standout performances, but that all changed in a scintillating first half that hinted at a new chapter in his Chelsea journey.
Mudryk seized control of Levi Colwill's assist with composure in the 18th minute at Craven Cottage, calmly placing the ball into the net to break the deadlock.
Moments later, Chelsea's lead was doubled by Broja as Tim Ream's clearance attempt ricocheted off the Italian forward and found its way into the net. This marked Broja's first goal since October 2022, following a significant knee injury.
Unfortunately, Mudryk was absent from the pitch in the second half, having been substituted at halftime due to a quad injury. However, manager Pochettino expressed optimism about the winger's fitness for the upcoming clash with Burnley on Saturday.
Chelsea's win propels them to 11th place in the Premier League standings, and Pochettino was pleased with Mudryk's performance. He explained: "Misha [Mudryk] played because he's showing in the training sessions that he deserved to be.
"He was really focused and his performances in training provided us the confidence to put him on the pitch. I'm pleased for Misha and for Armando.
"Misha scored his first goal in the Premier League and for Armando after a long period out he scored again, the competition is really good for the team.
Pochettino highlighted the competition for places within the team and the importance of patience for young players like Mudryk who need time to adapt. He emphasised that settling into a new environment can be challenging, but it's crucial to trust and nurture the talent of these young players.
"Young people need time to settle and it has been massive change for Misha when he arrived here," the Argentine said. "It's not easy to settle. It's about time and being patient. It is to trust these guys, these young talented players."
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