Soccer-Mudryk’s cat helps him guide Ukraine to victory

Soccer-Mudryk’s cat helps him guide Ukraine to victory

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By Martyn Herman

DÜSSELDORF, Germany (Reuters) – Ukrainian midfielder Mykhailo Mudryk helped his team to a vital Euro 2024 victory over Slovakia on Friday with the help of his pet cat.

The 23-year-old Chelsea player often posts photos of his cat on social media and has now had his beloved short-eared tabby printed on his shin guards for the tournament in Germany.

The signs weren’t good after Ukraine’s 3-0 defeat to Romania, but Mudryk displayed cat-like dexterity in Dusseldorf as his side won 2-1 to keep their qualification hopes alive for the round of 16.

Mudryk is known for its original and very small, custom-made shin guards. He has a pair bearing a Christian-inspired message “I can’t, I can’t, I can’t, I can” – with a caricature of Jesus removing the T and planting it on top of a hill like a cross.

This time, however, it’s his cat giving him inspiration as he prepares for Ukraine’s final Group E match against Belgium on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Ed Osmond)