Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has admitted he was caught completely off guard by Mykhailo Mudryk’s unexpected appearance in Wroclaw ahead of tonight’s UEFA Europa Conference League final.

Mudryk, who has been provisionally suspended since December after reportedly testing positive for the banned substance meldonium, has not played for Chelsea since late November. The Ukrainian winger has remained largely out of the spotlight during his ongoing case, making his sudden reemergence in Poland all the more surprising.

Photos surfaced on Tuesday of the 24-year-old dining at a local steakhouse in Wroclaw, dressed in official Chelsea gear and posing for photos with fans. However, Mudryk did not travel with the rest of the squad, who arrived in the city later in the day. It remains unclear if the club facilitated his travel or whether he is staying at the team hotel.

When asked about Mudryk’s presence during his pre-match press conference, Maresca was visibly taken aback.
“To be honest, I just, I don’t know…” the Chelsea boss said, seemingly at a loss for words. “He is here or he is coming? He’s here? I’m happy for Misha [Mudryk] to be here.”

Mudryk played a key role during Chelsea’s journey through the Conference League group stage, scoring three goals and providing three assists in just four appearances. He also featured in both legs of the qualifying tie against Servette back in August.

According to UEFA regulations, Mudryk remains eligible to receive a winner’s medal should Chelsea defeat Real Betis in tonight’s final, despite his suspension. However, it’s still uncertain whether he will be allowed on the pitch for post-match celebrations or even attend the match in an official capacity.

Regardless of the confusion, Mudryk’s surprise visit has sparked intrigue and raised questions about his future involvement with the club.

For now, his presence in Wroclaw adds another unexpected twist to what promises to be a dramatic European final.