Mudryk is back on the pitch and Alonso admits it was an emotional night

Xabi Alonso has opened up about what Mykhailo Mudryk's return meant to Chelsea. The Ukrainian winger made his first appearance since November 2024 in a friendly against Juventus, coming on as a substitute in the 82nd minute in Hong Kong. It was Mudryk's first match after a long layoff tied to a doping scandal, and the Chelsea head coach did not hide how much that moment meant. "I'm very happy for him. It was emotional for everyone at the club to see him back on the pitch, especially after I told him before the game that I planned to give him 10-15 minutes. He was thrilled, no doubt about it. After such a long period, being back on a football pitch is an incredible feeling for him. And it's a great feeling for all of us too," Alonso said. Chelsea ended up losing the friendly 0-1 to Juventus, but Mudryk's comeback was still one of the biggest talking points of the game.