Chelsea's Italian head coach Enzo Maresca laughs as he oversees a training session on the eve of the UEFA Conference League Final between Real Betis and Chelsea FC in Wroclaw on May 27, 2025. (Photo by Sergei GAPON / AFP) (Photo by SERGEI GAPON/AFP via Getty Images)
Enzo Maresca is preparing his team for Chelsea’s Conference League final against Real Betis (Picture: Getty)
Enzo Maresca confessed he was in the dark over Mykhailo Mudryk’s shock appearance in Poland ahead of tonight’s Conference League final.
The Blues will attempt to make history in Wroclaw this evening by becoming the first team to complete a clean sweep of the existing European trophies, but will again be without their Ukraine international winger.
Mudryk is currently suspended from playing after testing positive for the banned substance meldonium while on international duty in November.
Indeed, the 24-year-old’s last appearance for his club came in this competition on November 28 when he scored in a 2-0 win over Heidenheim.
Despite his ineligibility, Mudryk stunned supporters on Tuesday when he turned up in a local restaurant, decked out in Chelsea training apparel
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The former Shakhtar Donetsk star would be eligible for a winners’ medal were Chelsea to justify their status as strong favourites and defeat Real Betis.
It is unclear whether or not Mudryk would celebrate on the pitch with his teammates in the event of a victory, particularly given Maresca had no idea that the £88.5million signing was in the city of Wroclaw when asked about his presence.
Mykhailo Mudryk partied with Chelsea fans in Poland (TikTok)
The Chelsea winger appeared to be in good spirits (Picture: TikTok)
Asked how pleased he was that the Ukrainian is here, Chelsea’s head coach said: ‘To be honest, I just … I don’t know, he is here or is coming?
‘He is here? I don’t know. I am happy for Mischa to be here.’
Maresca, meanwhile, told his team they can defy their critics and demonstrate beyond doubt that they have come of age when they face their Spanish opponents.
The Italian issued a stinging rebuke on Sunday to those he believes had lacked faith in his squad – which is the youngest in Premier League history – following their 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest that secured Champions League football for next season, telling anyone who had doubted his team to ‘eff off.’
There was an equally fiery reaction from defender Levi Colwill who also swore during a post-match media interview.
Victory at the City Ground brought the curtain down on a tense run-in as the Blues squeaked over the line in the race for the top five, wrapping up a place in Europe’s top competition one year ahead of Maresca’s own schedule.
Chelsea's Cole Palmer looks at the ball during a training session ahead of the Europa Conference League final soccer match between Real Betis and Chelsea in Wroclaw, Poland, Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (AP Photo/ Denes Erdos)
Cole Palmer will hope to star in tonight’s final (Credits: AP)
Chelsea's head coach Enzo Maresca, centre, attends the training session ahead of the Europa Conference League final soccer match between Real Betis and Chelsea in Wroclaw, Poland, Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (AP Photo/ Denes Erdos)
Enzo Maresca could end his first season in charge at Chelsea with a major trophy (Credits: AP)
It also hugely changed the mood going into tonight’s showpiece in Poland, with Chelsea now able to face Betis in the knowledge that whatever the outcome it is mission accomplished.
Nevertheless, the sense after Forest was of a siege mentality having returned to the club, the like of which characterised earlier periods under such firebrand bosses as Jose Mourinho.
‘I think it’s a good feeling that the players react when there are some critics,’ said Maresca. ‘I think it’s a good reaction from the players. Levi’s reaction, my reaction, was just an outburst for the moment.
‘In our bad moments in February and March when we dropped points many people were talking, and from our point of view they were not talking in the right way.
‘Yes we are young, yes we are the youngest squad in the history of the Premier League, but at the same time they are men.
‘So I also use that criticism to say guys, (Wednesday) is a chance that we can say that we are not young, we are mature enough, we can compete and we can do the right things.’
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