CHELSEA
Xabi Alonso has spoken about Mykhailo Mudryk’s return to first team action against Juventus. Anyone following the latest Chelsea news will also want an update on Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill. Both England stars sat out the game with minor knocks picked up in training.
Xabi Alonso calls Mudryk’s return an emotional moment
Mudryk joined his Chelsea teammates in Hong Kong on Monday after his case was finally resolved. The case had kept him out of first team action since December 2024. Mudryk trained twice with the group before Alonso felt he was ready to play, as reported Chelsea FC’s official website. The coach spoke with Nicolas Jackson before the game and planned a late substitution to bring Mudryk on. That decision gave the young winger an emotional reception from fans inside the stadium. Before this match, Mudryk had gone close to twenty months without a single competitive minute for the club. A short run of ten or fifteen minutes carries real weight for a player rebuilding both fitness and form.
Alonso addressed the decision during his press conference after the 1-0 loss. As reported by GOAL,“It was emotional for everyone from the club,”he said, reflecting on the mood around the squad that night. He revealed that Mudryk was delighted when told he would get some time on the pitch. Alonso called it more than just a football decision, describing it instead as a human gesture. He aimed at giving the winger a lift and letting him feel the support of his teammates and the fans.
Mudryk’s stats in the 2024-25 season at Chelsea, as per FOTMOB:
Competitions Appearances Goals Assists
EFL Cup 2 0 1
EURO 2 0 0
Conference League 4 3 3
Palmer and Colwill left out to be safe
Levi Colwill and Cole Palmer took no part in the game against Juventus. Alonso downplayed the absences, insisting neither was a big worry for the club. “They had some discomfort,” the coach said, noting a knock for Palmer and a similar issue for Colwill. He made clear the priority was simply caution this early in pre-season.
Alonso confirmed the club will monitor both players closely over the coming days. He said the approach is to go step by step rather than force them back before they’re ready. With a new Premier League season approaching, Chelsea appear content to be patient with two important squad members.
ChelseaChelsea
What this means for Chelsea going forward
Mudryk’s return is a real boost for a Chelsea squad still finding its shape under Xabi Alonso. Getting a talented wide player back into the group gives the manager another attacking option for the new season. The Blues will hope he can build up his sharpness gradually across the remaining pre-season fixtures. Alonso’s caution with Palmer and Colwill points to a club unwilling to gamble with the players this early in the year. Neither knock sounds serious, yet the manager is clearly prepared to wait rather than risk pushing them back too soon.
Tactically, Mudryk’s pace on the wing gives Alonso a different kind of threat compared with most of his other attacking players. He can stretch a defence and open space for runners through the middle, which suits a coach who favours quick, direct football. Should Palmer return to full fitness alongside him, Chelsea would have two players capable of hurting opponents in very different ways, one through clever movement and the other through raw pace. That contrast in styles could prove valuable once the Premier League season resumes in earnest.
Also Read: Kerim Alajbegovic stuns Chelsea with Juventus decision