Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca speaks to Mykhailo Mudryk earlier this month. Photo: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
The Ukrainian forward had been set to feature against Shamrock Rovers on Thursday night (KO 8pm, Live TNT Sports) but is now not allowed to play or train with his club following yesterday’s news that an “adverse finding” was discovered in a routine urine test.
The 23-year-old, who signed in January of last year for an initial fee worth €70 million, said yesterday that he has “never knowingly used any banned substances”, but now may face a ban from football of up to four years according to FA rules.
Speaking ahead of the Blues’ Uefa Conference League clash against Stephen Bradley’s men, Maresca admitted he’s not sure how long the process will go on for but defended the player, insisting he retains the full support of his teammates, staff and the club as he begins a provisional ban.
“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 and staff all support and trust Misha,” said Maresca, who went on to hail Rovers as a “good” side, although he’s likely to give several youngsters a run out at Stamford Bridge as he did in their win over Astana last week.
“(We’re giving him) general support. We trust Misha. When this kind of thing happens, you need to support your player in all of the aspects. Misha is a Chelsea player but for sure, he is one of the players involved in the squad so I’m in contact with him.
“We all believe that (he is innocent).”
The winger would have been in line to face the Hoops tomorrow having started Chelsea’s first Conference League games, bagging three goals and three assists, but when asked if this may mark the end of his time at the west London club, the head coach disagreed.
“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,” Maresca continued.
“This is not the first time it has happened. It has happened in the past. We’re 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 (for results of his ‘B’ sample).
“It's my duty since we started to try and have relationships with players quite close. With Misha, it is exactly the same. I am there to help Misha with anything he needs.
“He was improving a lot. He started to understand which position he had to stay in. In the last two or three games he was improving a lot.”
With Chelsea and Shamrock Rovers two of the three remaining sides still unbeaten in the 36-team competition, the Blues boss says he’s been impressed by the League of Ireland side after watching their recent European outings.
“We are going to try to approach (the game) always in the same way, try to do our best and win the game,” he added.
“I think in football today, there is no team with no strength, all the teams have something good, and some things that you can work on to win the game.
“I watched four or five games and I think they are a good team. They try to defend as a block and they have some good players in general. I also saw (Rovers’ games) against Sparta Prague and Rapid Vienna. Different games that they were trying to play face to face with the other team.
“We could be (giving young players a chance tomorrow). We have tried to change the game, change players since we started and Thursday is probably one more option for that.”
Thursday will also be the first time for Chelsea to host Irish opposition in competitive action, although Chelsea centre-half Tosin Adarabioyo will be familiar with one Rovers face, as he played together with Jack Byrne while the pair were both at Manchester City’s academy.
“Jack was an absolute character,” smiled the 27-year-old. “An amazing guy and a very lovely character. I’m looking forward to seeing him tomorrow.
“You separate at a certain age, and at different times in your career you just never know when you might see each other again. When me and Jack saw the draw we knew it would be a great time to catch up."
“I saw that title that Damien Duff won,” he added, when asked what he knew of the League of Ireland. “I know Shamrock (Rovers) are normally the dominating team.”
Joao Felix and Romeo Lavia could return to the Chelsea squad tomorrow having missed Sunday’s Premier League win over Brentford, while Benoit Badiashile remains injured.