Alonso hails ‘emotional’ Mudryk return in 1-0 loss to Juventus
AFP | Hong Kong
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Manager Xabi Alonso hailed Mykhailo Mudryk's “emotional” return from a doping ban as the winger played for Chelsea for the first time in nearly two years in a 1-0 friendly defeat to Juventus in Hong Kong yesterday.
The Ukrainian international came on as a substitute for Nicolas Jackson in the 82nd minute, drawing applause from his teammates and loud cheers from Chelsea fans in the 43,575 crowd at Kai Tak Stadium.
Mudryk had not played since November 2024 because of a doping ban, but won permission to resume his football career on Friday after winning an appeal.
Despite a lively cameo on the left side, he was unable to stop Juventus taking the spoils courtesy of a wonderful second-half strike from Kosovo international Edon Zhegrova.
“Really pleased for him. It was emotional for everyone from the club to see him back,” Alonso told reporters.
“He was thrilled, for sure. After such a long period, to be back on the pitch, it was a great feeling for him.”
Neither side could find the breakthrough in a drab first half as two experimental line-ups struggled to create clear-cut chances.
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