Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has revealed that he has not spoken to Mykhailo Mudryk since the Ukrainian forward was charged with violating the Football Association's anti-doping rules. Despite the ongoing investigation, Maresca emphasized that Mudryk retains the full support of the club.

Mudryk, 24, was provisionally suspended by the FA in December after an adverse finding in a routine urine test. The suspension could potentially lead to a four-year ban from professional football. Mudryk, who last played for Chelsea in November, expressed his shock at the time, stating that he had "never knowingly used any banned substances."

Maresca commented on the situation, saying, "Mischa is a Chelsea player, and as a Chelsea player, I trust all the Chelsea players. I spoke with Mischa at the Conference League final in Poland, but I haven't spoken to him since. When I spoke to him, he was quite good, I didn't see him worried or not good, he was good and okay. But I haven't spoken to him since that day, so I don't know how he is now."

Mudryk joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023 in a deal worth up to £89 million and is under contract with the club until June 2031. Despite his current inability to train with the team, Mudryk has scored 10 goals in 73 appearances across all competitions for the Blues.

In other Chelsea news, Cole Palmer has taken over Mudryk's number 10 shirt, wearing it for the first time in Chelsea's 2-0 win over Los Angeles FC at the Club World Cup. Palmer, 23, explained that he chose the number to emulate his footballing idols, Lionel Messi and Wayne Rooney. Palmer also revealed that he had sent a private message to former Chelsea player Eden Hazard, who wore the number 10 shirt, but had not received a response.

Maresca also mentioned that he plans to rotate "three, four, or five players in every game," with Chelsea's next match against Brazilian giants Flamengo at Lincoln Financial Field. Additionally, Maresca expects winger Noni Madueke to remain at the club despite links to Arsenal.