"It's my duty to be in contact with him" - Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca opens up on Mykhailo Mudryk's ongoing doping scandal 

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has backed Mykhailo Mudryk after the Ukrainian star was provisionally suspended by the club. The winger failed a drug test earlier this season and has not been with the squad since he got his 'A' samples back.

Speaking at the press conference ahead of the Shamrock Rovers clash in the UEFA Conference League on December 18, Maresca stated that he was full of support for the Chelsea star. He added that the club believes that it was accidental and they are working to help the winger correct his name. He said (via football.london):

"Now the situation is a bit more clear, in terms of we have a statement with the club. There is not anything to add apart from the club, the staff all support and trust Misha. General support. We trust Misha. When this kind of thing happens, you need to support your player in all of the aspects. Misha is a Chelsea player but for sure, he is one of the players that is involved in the squad so I am in contact with him."

"First of all, these kind of things happen not only with young players but also players with experience. It's my duty since we started to try and have relationships with players quite close. With Misha, it is exactly the same. I am there to help Misha with anything he needs."

Mykhailo Mudryk joined Chelsea in 2023 after the Blues matched the bid by Arsenal. He has not managed to settle in at the club but was slowly getting into form at Stamford Bridge. In 73 appearances for the west London outfit, he has scored 10 goals and provided nine assists so far.

Chelsea support Mykhailo Mudryk and see him coming back, says Enzo Maresca

Enzo Maresca has admitted that everyone at the club supports Mykhailo Mudryk and are upset that the player has been suspended. He added that the winger was getting into his best form:

"We trust Misha, we support him. What Misha said, and what we said, is that we trust Misha and support Misha. For sure, he was improving a lot. He started to understand which position he had to stay. With us, I think in the last two or three games he was improving a lot. The talent we see on the training pitch is exactly the same."

When quizzed if the Ukrainian star's career at Chelsea is over, Maresca added:

"No, I don't think so. I think he will come back, we don't know when - that is the only doubt we have in this moment but for sure, he will come back."

Mykhailo Mudryk has scored three goals and assisted as many times in his four UEFA Conference League matches this season. He played 146 minutes in the Premier League as well, but failed to get a goal or an assist.