Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has voiced his continued support for Mykhailo Mudryk after the winger was charged with doping this week.
Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s FIFA Club World Cup Group D clash with Flamengo on Friday, Maresca emphasized his trust in the 23-year-old Ukrainian, despite the uncertainty surrounding his future.
“‘Mischa’ is a Chelsea player,” Maresca told reporters. “As long as he is a Chelsea player, I will trust all the Chelsea players.”
Mudryk was suspended by the Football Association in December after an “adverse finding in a routine urine test,” and has not featured for the Blues since November 28. If found guilty, he could face a ban of up to four years under FA regulations.
Currently not with the squad in the U.S., Mudryk has had no recent contact with Maresca.
“The last time I spoke with ‘Mischa’ was in Poland after the UEFA Conference League final,” Maresca said. “Since that day, I haven’t spoken with him, but for sure in the coming days or weeks, we’ll have contact.”
Mudryk’s spell at Chelsea, following his 100 million euros move from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023, has been marked by inconsistency – with just 10 goals in 73 appearances across all competitions.
With the Ukrainian unlikely to return in the near term, Maresca confirmed that the club is in the market for a new wide attacker ahead of the 2025–26 Premier League campaign.
“We had almost the entire season without ‘Mischa’ already,” the manager said. “We tried to adapt with academy players like Tyrique George. But it’s clear the winger position is one we need to strengthen – not just because of Mischa.”
Friday’s match against Flamengo is set to be pivotal in determining the Group D winner, with both sides coming off 2–0 victories – Chelsea against Los Angeles FC in Atlanta, and Flamengo over Espérance Sportive de Tunis.
Maresca acknowledged the challenging weather conditions in Philadelphia, where high humidity and temperatures have persisted all week. Kick-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. local time, a factor that could benefit the Brazilian side.
“Brazilian teams are more accustomed to playing in this kind of heat,” Maresca admitted. “But it doesn’t matter. We’ll rotate players and try to win.”
Enzo Fernandez, Malo Gusto, and new signing Liam Delap are all in contention for starting spots as Maresca looks to manage workloads in the intense conditions.
Flamengo, managed by former Chelsea and Atletico Madrid full-back Filipe Luís, arrive in strong form – sitting atop the Brasileirao and unbeaten in 15 of their last 16 matches.
“They’re a very good team,” Maresca said. “They play attractive football, are well-organized, and have technically gifted players. Like many Brazilian teams, they have great quality, so we’ll need to be at our best.”
