Wroclaw, Poland – Chelsea’s interim manager Enzo Maresca expressed surprise and admitted a lack of knowledge regarding Mykhailo Mudryk’s presence in Wroclaw before Wednesday’s UEFA Conference League final against Real Betis.
Mudryk, provisionally suspended by the FA after failing a doping test in December, was spotted in a local restaurant Tuesday, posing with fans while wearing Chelsea merchandise.
The £88.5 million winger, who hasn’t played since November, is eligible for a medal and expected to attend the match, though his exact location and whether Chelsea funded his trip remain unclear.
He arrived in Poland ahead of the team, catching Maresca off guard during a pre-match press conference.
Despite the unexpected presence of Mudryk, Maresca focused on the final, emphasizing the importance of the competition to his players, and addressing selection dilemmas regarding goalkeeper Filip Jörgensen, striker Nicolas Jackson, and captain Reece James.
Chelsea enters the match as favorites against first-time finalists Betis, seeking their first trophy since the Boehly-Clearlake takeover.
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