# Mudryk returns from doping ban in Chelsea’s 1-0 pre-season loss to Juventus 2026-08-05T23:11:51+00:00 | Sports | Indian Opinion Desk NDTV Sports reported that Mykhailo Mudryk played for Chelsea for the first time in nearly two years, coming on as a substitute in the 82nd minute of a 1-0 pre-season friendly loss to Juventus in Hong Kong, after a doping ban that ended when he won an appeal on Friday. Juventus won through a second-half strike from Edon Zhegrova. Manager Xabi Alonso called Mudryk's return emotional and said the team played with control before the changes disrupted its rhythm in the second half. Chelsea left Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill out after Palmer picked up a knock against Tottenham, which Alonso said was not a recurrence of his earlier groin injury. Chelsea play AC Milan in Jakarta next, before facing Fulham in their Premier League opener on 24 August. ## Indian Opinion Analysis Alonso's comments are his own assessment of a single substitute appearance, not evidence of Mudryk's match fitness or future role, since the report offers no playing statistics beyond the substitution and scoreline. Palmer's fitness update is carried alongside Alonso's own caveat that it was not a recurrence of last season's injury. Watch for Mudryk's minutes in Chelsea's remaining pre-season games and the Premier League opener on 24 August. ## Coverage - sports.ndtv.com Tags: Chelsea, Mykhailo Mudryk Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/xabi-alonso-hails-emotional-mykhailo-mudryk-return-in-1-0-loss-to-juventus/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/xabi-alonso-hails-emotional-mykhailo-mudryk-return-in-1-0-loss-to-juventus/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.