Manager Xabi Alonso hailed Mykhailo Mudryk's "emotional" return from a doping ban as the winger played for Chelsea for the first time in nearly two years in a 1-0 friendly defeat to Juventus in Hong Kong on Wednesday.
The Ukrainian international came on as a substitute for Nicolas Jackson in the 82nd minute, drawing applause from his teammates and loud cheers from Chelsea fans in the 43,575 crowd at Kai Tak Stadium.
Mudryk had not played since November 2024 because of a doping ban, but won permission to resume his football career on Friday after winning an appeal.
Despite a lively cameo on the left side, he was unable to stop Juventus taking the spoils courtesy of a wonderful second-half strike from Kosovo international Edon Zhegrova.
"Really pleased for him. It was emotional for everyone from the club to see him back," Alonso told reporters.

#Chelsea

It has been a few years since we last faced Juventus on the pitch. We've been on similar paths even if not exactly parallel, with the (once) Italian juggernauts failing to win their national league for six years and counting.
As always fitness, tactics and team chemistry take precedence in a preseason game. But if we can come out on top against a fellow embattled giant, then why not push for it?
Chelsea starting lineup (4-2-3-1):
Sánchez | Palestra, Fofana, Tosin, Hato | Caicedo (c), Nicoll-Jazuli | Quenda, João Pedro, Gittens | Welbeck
Substitutes from: Penders, Sharman-Lowe, Curd, Slonina, Sarr, Subuloye, Anselmino, Acheampong, Diakité, Essugo, Lavia, Walsh, Watson, Kellyman, Satpayev, Kavuma-McQueen, Estêvão, Mudryk, Neto, Jackson, Delap
Juventus starting eleven:
Di Gregorio | Kalulu, Gatti, Kelly, Çelik, Locatelli (c), Douglas Luiz, Cambiaso, Miretti, Boga, Milik

#juventus #starting #palestra #fofana

Chelsea take on Juventus at Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong on Wednesday, with Xabi Alonso's side aiming to recover after their recent friendly loss to Tottenham.
The Blues head into this fixture still searching for rhythm under their new manager following an inconsistent pre-season run. They began their tour in style with an entertaining 6-4 win over Western Sydney Wanderers but were brought back down to earth last weekend with a narrow 2-1 defeat against London rivals Spurs in Sydney. Alonso has made it clear that improving fitness levels remains a top priority as several key international players gradually rejoin the squad.
Chelsea's squad looks much stronger for the Asian leg of the tour, as several senior players have linked up with the team after extended breaks following the World Cup.
Mykhailo Mudryk is back in contention and could feature after his 21-month doping suspension was lifted, although Alonso has stated he will be managed carefully and is unlikely to play a full match.
Robert Sanchez also returns after missing the Tottenham game with a minor injury and will compete with new signing Mike Penders for the goalkeeper spot.

#several #Chelsea

Chelsea are less than three weeks away from officially kicking off the Xabi Alonso era at Stamford Bridge, as the Blues continue their preseason preparations with a friendly against Juventus on Wednesday.
MORE — Preseason fixtures & results | Transfers completed
Alonso's side were beaten by 10-man Tottenham Hotspur as they completed the Australian leg of their tour before wrapping up against Juve and AC Milan in Hong Kong and Jakarta. Once back in London, Chelsea will host Real Sociedad at the Bridge on Saturday, August 15, before kicking off the 2026-27 Premier League season away to Fulham on Monday, August 24.
Mykhailo Mudryk could make his return to football after 20 months suspended after returning an "adverse finding" for a banned substance in 2024. Alonso says the 25-year-old winger, who joined Chelsea for $115 million in January 2023, is available for selection. "Yes, he could play. Maybe 90 minutes it's too early, but he can be selected. He's selected, so he can play. He trained yesterday, came directly from the airport to the hotel. So, yesterday was more about the feelings, more about the emotions, to be back with the players."
Kick off time: 7:30 am ET Saturday, August 5
Venue: Kai Tak Stadium — Hong Kong
How to watch: Fubo

#Chelsea #august #saturday #away

Mykhailo Mudryk could make his long-awaited return to action when Chelsea face Juventus in a pre-season friendly in Hong Kong on Wednesday.
The Ukraine international has been included in Xabi Alonso's squad after being cleared to resume his career last week following the resolution of his anti-doping case with the Football **** ociation.
Speaking ahead of the match, Alonso confirmed the 25-year-old is available for selection, although he suggested a full 90 minutes would come too soon.
"Yes, he could play. Maybe 90 minutes is too early, but he can be selected," Alonso said.
"He trained yesterday, came directly from the airport to the hotel. Yesterday was more about the feelings, more about the emotions, to be back with the players and to **** s the fitness level."

#alonso

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said on Tuesday "no decision" had been made on Mykhailo Mudryk's future but added the winger could play in pre-season after returning from a doping ban.
Ukrainian international Mudryk was suspended for four years after failing a 2024 drug test, but has won an appeal and was permitted on Friday to resume his football career.
The 25-year-old has not played since November 2024 and there have been rumours that Chelsea could sanction a loan move to bring him up to speed, or even a permanent transfer.
Asked about those possibilities in Hong Kong on Tuesday ahead of his side's friendly against Juventus, Alonso said: "No decision made.
"Everything has happened so quick, so the main thing is that we were thinking about the person, to feel that he was back in the group dynamic, part of the team.

#xabi #ukrainian #mudryk #Friday

Mykhailo Mudryk could return to action following 20 months on the sidelines on Wednesday after being named in Chelsea's squad to play Juventus in a friendly in Hong Kong.
The Ukraine international, 25, has not played a competitive match since November 2024, having been provisionally suspended after returning an "adverse finding" for banned substance meldonium.
But he was cleared to return to action last week after resolving his case with the Football ****** ociation.
New Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso said: "Yes, he could play. Maybe [to play] 90 minutes it's too early, but he can be selected. He's selected, so he can play.
"He trained yesterday, came directly from the airport to the hotel. So, yesterday was more about the feelings, more about the emotions, to be back with the players to ****** s the fitness level."

#selected #mykhailo

BlueCo-owned Ligue 1 side RC Strasbourg have signed Genesis Antwi (19) from Chelsea FC, both clubs have announced. The Sweden U21 international right-back is the first Chelsea player to join the Alsatians on loan this summer. Mykhailo Mudryk could follow suit. Antwi has regularly played for Chelsea's Under-21 side in the past two seasons.
The right-back made his first senior team appearances during Chelsea's run to their maiden UEFA Conference League ***** le in 2024-2025. Antwi remained contracted with the Premier League side until 2028. Strasbourg were in need of bolstering their right-back options with Guéla Doué seemingly of interest for PSG.
"The 19-year-old will now spend the forthcoming campaign on loan in the French top flight. We look forward to monitoring Genesis' progress and wish him the best of luck at Strasbourg", Chelsea say.
GFFN | Bastien Cheval

#Chelsea #genesis #league #first

Chelsea have been handed a significant boost as speedy winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been cleared to return to action after nearly two years out.
The Ukraine international was suspended for doping, but the ban has been lifted with immediate effect.
The Football ******* ociation's statement said that under current scientific testing standards, the sample collected from the 25-year-old would not have been reported as a positive violation.
Chelsea have released a statement also confirming the news, and the former Shakhtar Donetsk man will jet out to Hong Kong to join the team on tour.
Mudryk's last appearance for the Blues was against Heidenheim in the Europa Conference League in 2024.

#statement #hong #kong

Chelsea FC winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been cleared to make an immediate return to action after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) partially upheld an appeal against his four-year ban for doping.
The 25-year-old has not played a competitive match since November 2024 after returning an adverse finding for banned substance meldonium.
Having been provisionally suspended by the Football ****** ociation (FA), Mudryk was then widely reported to have been given a four-year ban – though appealed to Cas against that decision.
The body has now ruled that Mudryk can return "with immediate effect" after he accepted breaking anti-doping rules, and reached agreement on a suspension equivalent to time served.
Cas said the test displayed "a low concentration" of the prohibited substance. It added that changes have since been made to the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) technical document regarding meldonium, a cardiovascular medication.

#year

Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk is available to return to playing immediately after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) partially upheld his appeal against a four-year ban for doping.
The Ukraine international, 25, has not played a competitive match since November 2024, having been provisionally suspended by the Football ***** ociation the following month after returning an "adverse finding" for banned substance meldonium.
He was subsequently given the maximum four-year ban by the FA but appealed against the decision to Cas, who have ruled Mudryk can return to competition "with immediate effect" after he accepted breaking anti-doping rules and agreed to a suspension equal to the time already served.
Chelsea said they are looking forward to getting Mudryk back to "full fitness, back into the squad and back on to the pitch" and he will join their pre-season tour.
More to follow.

#Chelsea #four #doping