Tottenham fans wasted no time forming an opinion on Mykhailo Mudryk following his debut in Saturday’s goalless draw at Nottingham Forest. The winger arrived on a season-long loan from Chelsea on deadline day, joining a revamped attacking group at the club that also includes Omar Marmoush, Savio, and Mateus Fernandes — though the new-look front line has yet to translate into results, with Spurs still searching for their first win of the campaign after three games.
Mudryk, who only recently returned to action following a 20-month absence tied to a doping case, came off the bench for the final 17 minutes. Much of the online reaction focused less on his own showing and more on how it compared to Mathys Tel, the man currently ahead of him on the left wing — with one fan suggesting Tel’s struggles made even a player two years out of the game look like an upgrade.
With only four touches to his name, Mudryk’s cameo drew a mixed response. Some supporters were unimpressed, with one describing it as looking like he’d never played competitive football before, while another felt he offered nothing different from Tel. Others were more charitable, pointing out that managing to look better than Tel after such a long layoff was still notable, with one fan calling his brief appearance sharp and confident.
Chelsea signed Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk for £89 million back in 2023, but the 25-year-old has managed only 10 goals and 11 assists in 73 appearances during his time in England — a return that, measured against his transfer fee, works out to roughly £4.3 million per goal contribution.
Now looking to reestablish himself in the capital, Mudryk faces pressure to prove he belongs at this level. Given the shaky confidence surrounding both player and club, a slow start could make life difficult for him as he tries to build momentum in his new surroundings.
