Hong Kong: Mykhailo Mudryk returns for Chelsea in Juventus defeat
Mykhailo Mudryk’s Return to Action
Mykhailo Mudryk made his return to the pitch for Chelsea in a 1-0 friendly defeat against Juventus in Hong Kong. The match, held on Wednesday, marked his first appearance for the club in nearly two years. Mudryk entered the game as a substitute for Nicolas Jackson in the 82nd minute, receiving applause from his teammates and cheers from the Chelsea fans among the 43,575 attendees at Kai Tak Sports Park.
The Ukraine international had not participated in a competitive match since November 2024. His absence was due to a provisional suspension following an “adverse finding” for meldonium, a banned substance. However, the 25-year-old was cleared to resume playing after resolving the case with the Football Association.
Despite a lively performance on the left side of the field, Mudryk was unable to prevent Juventus from securing the win. Xabi Alonso, Chelsea’s manager, expressed his satisfaction with Mudryk’s return, describing it as an “emotional” moment for everyone at the club. Alonso noted that Mudryk was thrilled to be back on the pitch after such a long period away from the game.
Match Details and Key Moments
The friendly fixture saw both teams struggle to create clear opportunities in a largely uneventful first half. Danny Welbeck, making his first appearance in a Chelsea shirt, had an early chance but failed to direct a header on target. Juventus’s threat often came from counter-attacks, with the Italian side defending deeply when Chelsea had possession.
In the second half, Moises Caicedo provided a long ball that set up new signing Marco Palestra, whose shot was saved by Mattia Perin. The deadlock was eventually broken in the 68th minute when Kenan Yildiz set up Edon Zhegrova, who scored with a strike from outside the box into the top corner. Zhegrova’s goal came shortly after several substitutions were made by Xabi Alonso.
Chelsea made numerous changes throughout the match, with Mike Penders, Geovany Quenda, and Danny Welbeck also making their first outings for the club. Robert Sanchez returned from injury in goal, while Marco Palestra, Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabiyo, and Jorrel Hato formed the back four. Moises Caicedo captained the side and played in midfield alongside Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli. The attack featured Quenda, Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens, and Welbeck.
Despite late opportunities for Estevao Willian and Romeo Lavia, Chelsea could not find an equalizer. Alonso acknowledged that while his side started well, the numerous substitutions in the second half affected the game’s control and stability. He emphasized that the match was part of a process to get minutes for all players.
Milan’s Tribute and Derby Draw
In a separate preseason fixture in Perth, Milan played out a draw with Inter. The match was preceded by a minute’s silence in tribute to Franco Baresi, who captained Milan during the 1980s and 1990s. Players from both teams linked arms during the tribute.
In front of 52,310 fans in Australia, Inter initially took the lead with a strike from Federico Dimarco in the 52nd minute. However, Milan equalized when Christopher Nkunku converted a penalty in the 83rd minute, after being fouled by Carlos Augusto.
Chelsea’s next fixture is against AC Milan in Jakarta on Saturday, followed by preseason games against Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim and Spain’s Real Sociedad.
Source: theguardian.com
