Xabi Alonso Welcomes Mykhailo Mudryk Back to Chelsea but Warns Recovery Will Take Time

Xabi Alonso expressed his pleasure in having Mykhailo Mudryk back with Chelsea, although he cautioned that it is still too soon to gauge the player's current form and fitness. The Ukrainian winger, aged 25, will rejoin Chelsea’s squad for their pre-season tour after settling his doping case with the Football Association (FA).

Mudryk hasn’t played since November 2024 due to a provisional suspension following a positive test for the banned substance meldonium. The FA concluded its investigation after Mudryk admitted to breaching anti-doping regulations and accepted a suspension equivalent to the 1 year and 8 months he has already served.

Pre-season Plans and Fitness Concerns

After Chelsea’s 2-1 loss to a 10-man Tottenham in Sydney, Alonso confirmed Mudryk will join the team at their next stop in Hong Kong. “Yes, he is coming to Hong Kong, but I haven’t spoken to him yet,” Alonso said.

He added, “It’s too early to tell how he is in terms of fitness, or the amount of game time he needs to get back involved. We are happy for him, especially because we can’t truly understand what he has been through during this period or how he feels now after coping with all these challenges.”

Training During Suspension

During his suspension, Mudryk was unable to train at Chelsea’s facilities or work with club staff. Instead, he hired a private coach and goalkeeper trainers and practiced with non-league team Uxbridge.

“We expect that it will take some time,” Alonso remarked. “He trained alone every day. That must have been incredibly tough because he wanted to play football and be part of a team, but wasn’t allowed for such a long time.”

Alonso emphasized the importance of integrating Mudryk back into the squad. “We want him to feel part of the team. Once he’s with us, we will see how things progress.”

Chelsea’s Squad Depth on the Wings

Alonso acknowledged that Mudryk’s return was unexpected as Chelsea had already assembled a strong group of wingers, including Pedro Neto, Estevao Willian, Jamie Gittens, and Geovany Quenda. Additionally, Cole Palmer and new £117 million signing Morgan Rogers are capable of playing on the flanks.

“Honestly, we weren’t expecting such good news at this moment,” Alonso admitted.

Roberto de Zerbi’s Thoughts on Mudryk

After Tottenham’s victory at Accor Stadium, Spurs manager Roberto de Zerbi shared that he remains in contact with Mudryk, whom he managed at Shakhtar Donetsk before the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“He is like a son to me. I am very happy for him. He deserves to play,” De Zerbi said. “He is a great guy and an excellent player. I hope he can show, this coming season, what he went through over the last two years. Maybe not against Tottenham, but he’s a lovely guy and a very good player.”“I want to thank all my former players for what they gave me, especially Misha, because I left that club because of the war, not football, even though it was possibly the highest level of football I’ve coached.”

Alonso Reflects on Mudryk’s Talent

Alonso recalled watching Mudryk at Shakhtar and noted his quickness, skill in one-on-one situations, and ability to create chances independently. “He’s a special player, but he will definitely need time,” he concluded.

• Player: Mykhailo Mudryk
• Age: 25
• Last match played: November 2024
• Doping substance: Meldonium
• Suspension length served: 1 year 8 months
• Next pre-season location: Hong Kong
• Chelsea winger options: Pedro Neto, Estevao Willian, Jamie Gittens, Geovany Quenda, Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers (£117m signing)