It was in the 74th minute of this friendly loss to Juventus when Mykhailo Mudryk finally stood up from Chelsea’s bench, sent to warm-up on his own.
A little loneliness was nothing new for the Ukrainian. He grew used to training in solitary while suspended from football for the last 600 days.
Manager Xabi Alonso had already made 11 substitutions by this stage – four at half-time, and another seven after 65 minutes – and we were unsure whether we would see the 25-year-old on a field for the first time since his last appearance away at Heidenheim on November 28, 2024.
Then suddenly, it all changed. Suddenly, Alonso called him over and told him to get stripped. Suddenly, all of his Chelsea team-mates were applauding as he was introduced in the 80th minute. Suddenly, he was a footballer again, pointing to the heavens as he entered the pitch.
It is hard to fathom how Mudryk must have been feeling inside. Wearing No 43 on his back – Cole Palmer took the No 10 during his suspension with the Ukraine international’s blessing – he also wore a fine poker face. There were not too many emotions being exhibited on the outside.
Yet this is what he had been working towards. Hiring the pitch of seventh-tier Uxbridge to train on. Performing sprint sessions at the Battersea Park running track. Playing padel to mix it up. Paying to work with a personal trainer daily.
Mykhailo Mudryk made his first appearance since November 2024 after coming off the bench against Juventus in Hong Kong
The Ukrainian, suspended after failing a drugs test, gave glimpses of the speed still being there, reaching one ball which otherwise appeared to be rolling behind for a goal-kick
That he was allowed to even appear against Juventus is a testament to how he kept himself fit while suspended in the hope of playing again as soon as possible.
Football-wise, 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 as a player again was cheered by the Kai Tak Stadium crowd, though it was not the greatest, his pass inside giving away possession.
Rustiness is only to be expected. Those clubs who have already approached Chelsea to ask about their plans for him for the next season – as reported by Daily Mail Sport days ago – will understand patience is needed. The most important takeaway is that this £89million signing is now back.
Mudryk has always insisted that he has no idea how the banned substance meldonium entered his system. Chelsea believe him. It was understood to have happened while away with the Ukraine national team in September 2024.
Mudryk’s return to football was made possible because of a change in the way the World Anti-Doping Agency measures meldonium. He reached a resolution with the FA because, were that same sample tested today, he would not have reported a positive test.
This return in Hong Kong was a long-time coming for Mudryk – a little light after so long in the loneliness of the shadows.
Chelsea have struck an agreement to sign the left back Pep Chavarria from Rayo Vallecano, for £16.3million plus add-ons. He’s 28 years old, and was still playing in Spain’s second division at 24. It’s a nice story.
The Spaniard, who can also be used as a wing back, should be announced soon after travelling to London to finalise the transfer.
Marco Palestra, the right back Chelsea signed from Atalanta last month, is already impressing with the Blues
We will need to wait to assess Chavarria’s attributes, but their other defensive signing this summer, in right full back Marco Palestra, is already impressing. We say ‘defensive’. He is as attacking as a defender can be. Palestra 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.
Despite significant speculation, Chelsea insiders insist they have not made enquiries for Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa, and are happy heading towards the new season with Robert Sanchez and Mike Penders, who has returned after a loan 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, conceding to a 20-yard curler from Edon Zhegrova which was beyond his reach. You simply had to applaud it as a sublime strike.
Chelsea players will now have some downtime in Hong Kong on Thursday, before then flying to Jakarta on Friday and facing another Italian side in AC Milan on Saturday.
Chelsea insiders have denied the club have enquired about Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa, with the Blues happy to go into the season with Robert Sanchez (pictured) and Mike Penders
In Chelsea’s midfield was a 16-year-old named 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 this was yet another poor surface to play on.
A bobbling ball did not aid the football which Alonso is trying to implement, and you have to wonder whether the money involved in visiting Australia and Asia is worth the trade-off of such shoddy pitches. It cannot help preparations with the Premier League around the corner.
A poor pitch at the Kai Tak Stadium didn’t help new boss Xabi Alonso’s efforts to implement his style of play
Danny Welbeck started in his first appearance after arriving from Brighton. With the 35-year-old holding the ball up nicely as Chelsea’s striker, that saw Joao Pedro moved to the No 10 position.
Nicolas Jackson replaced Welbeck at half-time. However, it was Jackson who was then hooked when Mudryk was introduced, despite some nice moments from the Senegal striker whose future is very much in the air. Chelsea’s valuation of Jackson is £65m, per sources.
Chelsea named 21 substitutes for this friendly. That was without 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.
