Mykhailo Mudryk made his first Chelsea appearance in 600 days as Xabi Alonso's side suffered a friendly loss against Juventus at Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong. The 25-year-old Ukrainian winger came off the bench in the 80th minute to applause from his teammates, pointing to the heavens as he entered the pitch.
Mudryk stood up from the bench in the 74th minute, sent to warm up on his own. Alonso had already made 11 substitutions by that stage, making four changes at half-time and seven after 65 minutes. It had been uncertain whether Mudryk would play for the first time since his last appearance away at Heidenheim on November 28, 2024.
Wearing No 43 on his back after Cole Palmer took the No 10 during his suspension with Mudryk's blessing, the winger kept a poker face with few external emotions. He had trained in solitary during his 600-day suspension, hiring the pitch of seventh-tier Uxbridge to train on. Mudryk also performed sprint sessions at the Battersea Park running track, played padel to mix it up, and paid to work with a personal trainer daily.
Mudryk Speed and Meldonium Clearance
That Mudryk was allowed to even appear against Juventus was a testament to how he kept himself fit while suspended in the hope of playing again as soon as possible. On the pitch, Mudryk gave glimpses of the speed still being there, reaching one ball which otherwise appeared to be rolling behind for a goal-kick. His first touch was cheered by the crowd, though his pass inside gave away possession.
Rustiness was expected after such a long absence. Clubs have already approached Chelsea to ask about their plans for the winger next season, as reported by Daily Mail Sport days ago, and will understand patience is needed. The main takeaway for the club is that their £89million signing has finally returned.
Mudryk has always insisted that he had no idea how the banned substance meldonium entered his system, a claim Chelsea believe. The positive test was understood to have happened while he was away with the Ukraine national team in September 2024.
His return to football was made possible because of a change in how the World Anti-Doping Agency measures meldonium. Mudryk reached a resolution with the FA because, were that same sample tested today, he would not have reported a positive test. The appearance in Hong Kong brought light after so long in the loneliness of the shadows.
Chavarria Deal and Palestra Impact
Chelsea have struck an agreement to sign left back Pep Chavarria from Rayo Vallecano for £16.3million plus add-ons. The 28-year-old Spaniard, who can also play as a wing back, was still playing in Spain's second division at 24. He should be announced soon after travelling to London to finalise the transfer.
While fans will need to wait to assess Chavarria's attributes, Chelsea's other defensive signing this summer is already impressing. Right full back Marco Palestra, signed from Atalanta last month, is as attacking as a defender can be. He was the fastest player in Serie A last season and uses that pace devastatingly.
Moises Caicedo has shown how well he can play passes over the top, and with the relentlessly rapid Palestra looking to burst in behind on repeat, that could be a winning combination for Chelsea. The Italian nearly scored from one such scenario at the Kai Tak Stadium.
Goalkeeper Plans and Match Details
Despite significant speculation, Chelsea insiders insist they have not made enquiries for Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa. The club are happy heading towards the new season with Robert Sanchez and Mike Penders, who returned from a loan spell with sister side Strasbourg.
Sanchez played the first 45 minutes, denying former Chelsea player Jeremie Boga from distance as it remained goalless at half-time. Penders played the second 45 minutes, conceding to a 20-yard curler from Edon Zhegrova which was beyond his reach after a sublime strike.
Chelsea players will now have some downtime in Hong Kong on Thursday. They will then fly to Jakarta on Friday before facing another Italian side in AC Milan on Saturday.
Youth Exposure and Pitch Concerns
In Chelsea's midfield was 16-year-old Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, who has enjoyed tremendous exposure in this pre-season. The England Under-17 international never shied away from wanting possession next to Caicedo, though he was hindered by a poor surface.
A bobbling ball did not aid the football which Alonso is trying to implement. It raises the question of whether the money involved in visiting Australia and Asia is worth the trade-off of shoddy pitches that fail to help preparations with the Premier League around the corner.
Forward Options and Squad Depth
Danny Welbeck started on his first appearance after arriving from Brighton. With the 35-year-old holding the ball up nicely as Chelsea's striker, Joao Pedro moved into the No 10 position.
Nicolas Jackson replaced Welbeck at half-time. The Senegalese forward was removed when Mudryk was introduced in the 80th minute, though that was pre-planned. Jackson had played well, but agreed to make way so that Mudryk could have his moment.
Jackson's future remains in the air this summer, with Chelsea valuing him at £65million. Chelsea named 21 substitutes for this friendly, without Cole Palmer or Levi Colwill, who both had minor issues and were not risked by Alonso. While there were a fair few academy representatives on that bench, it acted as a reminder that Chelsea still need to do some selling and loaning this summer.
