Enzo Maresca has spoken out for the first time on the situation with Mykhailo Mudryk, after the Ukrainian was found to have had a banned substance in his system during a routine drugs check.
On Monday, news broke that the Football Association had notified Mudryk that he had failed a drugs test. The Ukraine international has now been provisionally suspended by the FA because of the positive test.
Speaking in his pre-Shamrock Rovers press conference on Wednesday afternoon, the Chelsea boss said he and everyone else at the club would be supporting the player. He said: "Now the situation is a bit more clear, in terms of we have a statement with the club. There is not anything to add apart from the club, the staff all support and trust Misha.
"General support. We trust Misha. When this kind of thing happens, you need to support your player in all of the aspects.
"We are all upset and sad and we are there to support Misha. I spoke with him days ago. At the moment, he cannot train. We are waiting. The club is ready to support the player.
"We all believe that [he is innocent]."
There were plenty of questions on Mudryk during Maresca's pre-match press conference ahead of the Shamrock Rovers UEFA Conference League clash. And the Italian delivered his response to whether or not the Ukrainian's career at Chelsea was over.
He added: "No, I don't think so. I think he will come back, we don't know when - that is the only doubt we have in this moment but for sure, he will come back."
This is a developing story we will update with further information as and when we get it...