Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has pledged his strong support for Ukraine international Mudrik after he failed a doping test. Mudrik is currently suspended by the Football Association (FA) after testing positive for a banned substance in a routine urine test. The 23-year-old denied wanting to take the substance and stressed that he did not take it on purpose.
Maresca made it clear that Chelsea has full trust in Mudrik. He told the BBC: “We support Mykhailo and trust means we believe in Mykhailo. We support and trust everyone at the club, the coaching staff and at the training ground.” Maresca also mentioned that while the length of Mudrik’s suspension is uncertain, he is confident the winger will return to the team. “I think he will be back, but we don’t know when,” Maresca said. “But he will definitely be back.”
Maresca also revealed that he had spoken to Mudrik personally since the suspension was announced. He stressed the importance of support in such situations, saying: “Every player who is in a similar situation needs support.”
Mudrick joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2023 in a deal worth a potential £89 million, but his time at the club was challenging. He scored 10 goals in 73 games and missed the last five games, with his absence previously explained as illness, but a doping scandal has raised questions.
