Maresca and Chelsea have ‘trust’ in Mudryk despite the doping ban

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca says he and the club have full confidence in Mykhail Mudryk after he was found to have breached doping rules.

The 23-year-old has returned a failed drugs test – which is regularly administered by the FA – and has been suspended by the club.

An investigation will be conducted to find out the source of Mudryk’s negative result.

The player himself says he has never knowingly taken performance-enhancing drugs.

Speaking about it, Maresca said: “We trust Mykhail and we support Mykhail, and trust means we trust Mykhail, we trust Mykhail and we support him.

“What Mykhailo said and what we said is that we trust him and support him.

🚨🔵 Maresca: “We all support Misha Mudryk”.

“The situation is a little clearer. We have a press release from the club that has already said what we need to say”.

“Therefore, there is nothing to add. All the players on the field support and trust Misha.” pic.twitter.com/mCj36I0r81

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 18, 2024

“First of all, things like this don’t only happen to young players, but also to experienced players.

“It has been my duty since we started to try to have a close relationship with the players because I like it that way.

“It’s exactly the same with Mudryk and I’m here to help him in everything he needs. At this moment it is normal that he will need the help of the club, me and his teammates and we are all here trying to support him.”

An innocent man

Mudryk did not have many minutes in the Premier League this season, but he was used in cup competitions.

He is likely to start Chelsea’s Europa Conference League game against Shamrock Rovers on Thursday.

When asked if he believes that Mudryk is innocent, he added: “We all believe that, and then we will see.”

“I think he will be back. We just don’t know when, that’s the only doubt we have at the moment. Will definitely be back.

“It’s not about Mykhail, it’s about any player in the world who needs support if something like this happens.

“We support and trust Misha (Mudryk)”

Enzo Maresca on the suspension of Mykhail Mudryk after an unfavorable result of a routine urine test. pic.twitter.com/KtMfA8CA2s

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 18, 2024

“No matter if they are 20 or 30 years old or English, Italian or Ukrainian – when these things happen, I need support, you need support, they need support – we all need support.

“It is not about Mihajlo, his age or the country. When things like this happen, we all need support.

“He improved a lot, especially in the last game. He began to understand the position in which he must remain.

“In the beginning, he moved a lot and ran because of his skills, but in the last two or three games he improved a lot and we were very happy with him. In terms of where it can be in one, two or three years. I don’t know

“The talent we see on the training pitch is exactly the same as the talent you sometimes see during a game. It’s exactly the same feeling with Mykhail. In training, it’s exactly the same as in a match.”