Xabi Alonso on Mykhailo Mudryk’s Return to Chelsea: Recovery Will Take Time

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso expressed his happiness at having Mykhailo Mudryk return to the squad but stressed it is too soon to gauge the winger's current form. The 25-year-old Ukrainian is set to join Chelsea’s pre-season tour after settling his doping case with the Football Association (FA).

Mudryk’s Absence and Doping Suspension

Mudryk has been sidelined since November 2024, following a provisional suspension due to testing positive for meldonium, a banned substance. The FA closed its anti-doping proceedings once Mudryk admitted to breaching the rules and accepted a suspension matching the one year and eight months he has already served.

After Chelsea’s 2-1 loss to 10-man Tottenham in a friendly held in Sydney, Alonso confirmed Mudryk will be joining the team in Hong Kong for the next leg of their pre-season tour. He mentioned he hasn’t had a chance to speak directly with Mudryk yet.

Fitness and Integration Challenges Ahead

Alonso highlighted that Mudryk’s fitness and match readiness remain uncertain. The winger has not trained with Chelsea’s staff or facilities during his suspension, instead working out with a private coach and training at non-league club Uxbridge.

"It’s too early to tell how he is in terms of fitness, in terms of the game time you need to be involved again," Alonso said. "We expect that it will take time."

He added that the mental toll must have been heavy, training alone every day without being able to play football or be part of a team.

"He wanted to play football, to be part of a team, and he was not allowed to do that for such a long time."

Alonso emphasized the importance of making Mudryk feel welcomed as he reintegrates into the squad and acknowledged the uncertainty over how quickly he will regain full form.

Chelsea’s Wide Options Despite Mudryk’s Return

The manager also noted that Mudryk’s comeback was unexpected, especially since Chelsea has developed several wing options including Pedro Neto, Estevao Willian, Jamie Gittens, and Geovany Quenda. Additionally, both Cole Palmer and new £117 million signing Morgan Rogers can operate on the flanks.

"To be honest, we were not expecting to have this great news at this moment," Alonso admitted.

Roberto de Zerbi Praises Mudryk

Spurs manager Roberto de Zerbi, who coached Mudryk at Shakhtar Donetsk before the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, shared his support for the player after Tottenham’s win at Accor Stadium.

"He is another who is my son. I am very happy. He deserves to play. He is a top guy, a good player. I hope he can show, in this next season, what he suffered over the last two years," de Zerbi said."Maybe not against Tottenham, but he is a lovely guy and a very, very good player.""I have to say thank you to all my former players for what they gave me, especially Misha, because I left there because of the war. I left that team, that club, not for football, despite it being maybe the best level of football I have coached."

Alonso Reflects on Mudryk’s Talent and Potential

Alonso recalled watching Mudryk’s impact at Shakhtar, praising his speed, skill in one-on-one situations, and ability to create chances single-handedly.

"He’s a special player, but he will need time, for sure," Alonso concluded.