Enzo Maresca has revealed he has not spoken with Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk since the FA officially charged the Ukrainian international with doping offences.
football.london reported earlier this week that Mudryk has been charged after testing positive for the banned performance-enhancing substance meldonium . The 24-year-old faces a potential ban of up to four years.
Mudryk has been provisionally suspended since December following the results of his drug test. He has denied any wrongdoing, and Chelsea said at the time that “he has never knowingly used any banned substances.”
Now that the FA has confirmed the charges, Maresca has been asked whether he’s kept in contact with Mudryk, who is nicknamed 'Mischa' in the Chelsea dressing room.
“I spoke with Mischa in Poland when we played the Conference League final,” Maresca said ahead of Chelsea’s Club World Cup clash with Flamengo. “I haven’t spoken with him since then.
Chelsea winger Mykhaylo Mudryk could be facing up to a four-year ban
Chelsea winger Mykhaylo Mudryk could be facing up to a four-year ban (Image: Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)
“I didn’t see the news but it was communicated to me. There’s nothing more I can add because I don’t have more information. Mischa is a Chelsea player. Until he is not, I will trust. And that goes for all the players.”
Maresca added: “Last time I spoke to him he was quite good. I didn’t see him worried. I haven’t spoken to him since then so I don’t know, but for sure we will have contact with him.”
Paul Pogba was handed a four-year ban after testing positive for a banned substance, although the former Manchester United midfielder successfully appealed for a reduced sentence, with his suspension cut to 18 months after it was ruled the ingestion was not intentional.
While Chelsea prepare for their Club World Cup campaign, attention at Stamford Bridge is also turning toward the transfer window. With Mudryk potentially out for the long term, Maresca has admitted that signing a new winger has become a priority.
“We had an entire season already without Mischa. We are going to decide to go for a winger,” he said. “In both cases, we have Noni Madueke and Pedro Neto as proper wingers, then we try to adapt with Tyrique George. It’s a position we need to improve.”
Madueke has been linked with a move to Arsenal, but Maresca attempted to shut down the rumours: “Noni is our player. At this moment, you can read a lot of speculation. We consider Noni our player for next season.”