Enzo Maresca has not spoken to Mykhailo Mudryk since confirmation the Chelsea winger has been charged with doping breaches.
Mudryk has been provisionally suspended since December after testing positive for banned substance meldonium. The FA announced on Wednesday the Ukraine international has been charged with the player now facing a lengthy ban from football.
Mudryk has firmly denied knowingly taking any banned substances.
The 22-year-old, who joined Chelsea in a £89million deal in January 2023, was last spotted joining up with his teammates in Poland following the club’s Europa Conference League victory over Real Betis.
Since then, the former Shakhtar Donetsk star has been stripped of his no10 shirt, handed to Cole Palmer1, with Wednesday’s ruling casting more doubt on his future.
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Mudryk, nicknamed ‘Mischa’ by his manager and teammates, has a contract at Stamford Bridge until 2031.
Asked for an update on the winger’s situation ahead of Club’s Club World Cup clash against Flamengo, Maresca said: ‘I spoke with Mischa in Poland when we played the Conference League final. I haven’t spoke with him since then.
‘I didn’t see the news but they communicated it to me but there is nothing more I can add because I don’t have more information.
‘Mischa is a Chelsea player. Until he is not, I will trust. It’s not just about Mischa. It’s in general with all the players.’
He added: ‘Last time I spoke to him he was quite good, I didn’t see him worried, I didn’t speak to him since then so I don’t know but for sure we will have contact with him.’
Maresca confirms Chelsea will sign a winger
Chelsea are eager to sign another winger this summer’s regardless of Mudryk’s availability after deciding not to make Jadon Sancho’s loan move from Manchester United a permanent one.
The Blues have already seen offers for Borussia Dortmund star Jamie Gittens turned away with Maresca convinced it is an area they must strengthen.
‘We had already one entire season already without Mischa. We are going to decide to go for a winger,’ he said.
‘In both cases, we have Noni Madueke and Pedro Neto as proper wingers, then we try to adapt with Tyrique George. It’s a position we need to improve.’
Madueke meanwhile has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge with Newcastle United and Arsenal credited with interest in the England international.
‘Noni is our player. In this moment, you can read many speculation [about players]. We consider Noni as our player for next season.’