Chelsea 0-1 Juventus: Xabi Alonso admits Mykhaylo Mudryk return after 616-day absence was "emotional"

By Darren Plant | 05 Aug 2026 15:54

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso says that handing Mykhaylo Mudryk an accidental against Juventus connected Wednesday was an 'emotional experience'.

Less than a week ago, Mudryk was serving a four-year prohibition for a doping offence, but that was lifted connected Friday afternoon.

Having flown to Hong Kong to nexus up with the first-team squad, Mudryk moved into contention for an instant quality by Alonso.

In the 82nd infinitesimal of a 1-0 decision to Juventus, Mudryk was introduced to a immense ovation, and looked comparatively crisp for a subordinate who lasted played 616 days ago.

Speaking astatine a property conference, Alonso acknowledged that helium was delighted to supply the Ukrainian prima his instrumentality to football.

Alonso speaks connected Mudryk Chelsea return

The Spaniard told reporters: "For sure, I'm truly pleased for him. It was affectional for everyone from the nine to spot him back, particularly erstwhile I told him that earlier the crippled that was my idea, that helium could play 10-15 minutes.

"He was thrilled, for sure. It was, aft specified a agelong period, to beryllium backmost connected the pitch, it was a large feeling for him and a large feeling for everyone arsenic well."

Mudryk volition anticipation to marque different outing for Chelsea erstwhile they play AC Milan connected Saturday.

Why did Colwill, Palmer miss Chelsea, Juventus friendly?

Meanwhile, Alonso played down immoderate concerns regarding the absences of Levi Colwill and Cole Palmer for the Juventus game.

He said: "They had a few, not injuries, discomforts. Cole with a whack and Levi arsenic well, truthful nary constituent to instrumentality today's hazard and hopefully they volition beryllium good for Saturday.

On Palmer, helium added: "It's a whack, a interaction wounded that helium had against Spurs. So it's not that."

Chelsea person present mislaid successive affable matches, the different coming to Tottenham Hotspur by a 2-1 scoreline past weekend.