Mykhailo Mudryk has returned to football after a 20-month ban for adverse findings on a doping control in amounts that would no longer constitute a violation these days, and he’s now joined up with the rest of the Chelsea squad on preseason tour in Hong Kong. But what happens next is about as murky as the entire process was of his suspension and eventually resolution on appeal.
While the 25-year-old kept in shape through personal trainers and dedication, it’s impossible to replicate actual training
situations let alone match situations while being banned from all things football. So he’s got a lot of catching up to do in that sense, not to mention in the sense of getting reintegrated into the team in a general sense and coming up to speed on the methods and ideas that Xabi Alonso’s introducing. No one was expecting this exact timing of his reinstatement, which came as a surprise to both player and club.
So, understandably, Chelsea are taking it slow and being very careful with the whole situation, assessing things as we go along the next couple weeks.
“No decision [has been] made. Everything has happened so quick, so the main thing is that he was thinking about the person, to feel back that he was back in the group dynamic, part of a team, and we need to assess. But for sure, he’s a special player, it’s a special case with him, so we need to be sensitive.”
One idea might be to loan Mudryk to Strasbourg, though he’s reportedly also garnered some interest from Frank Lampard’s Coventry City, in addition to a couple other Premier League and Serie A teams.
For now, he’s with the team and hopefully back on the pitch, even.
“We are thrilled that Misha could be with us. We are thrilled. I think that you could see his smile, how great it was for him to be part of a team, because he’s been a long time training on his own. And fitness level, we will see. But he has been working hard and now it’s about trying to get to do things, passing the ball to teammates, having to integrate in the dynamic. But the first feeling from everyone, we are happy that he’s back with us in the team
“He came directly [to training] from the airport to the hotel. So, yesterday was more about the feelings, more about the emotions, to be back with the players to assess the fitness level. But yes, he could play [tomorrow against Juventus], maybe 90 minutes too early, but he can be selected. He’s selected, so he can play.”
-Xabi Alonso; source: Football.London
It’s never easy to come back from such a long time away from football, regardless of reason. Taking it slow and keeping expectations (good or bad) in check will be important.
