Enzo Maresca responds as Chelsea star Myhailo Mudryk arrives for Conference League final

Chelsea take on Real Betis in the UEFA Conference League final on Wednesday with forgotten ace Mykhailo Mudryk seen in Wroclaw

Forgotten man Mykhailo Mudryk has turned up for the UEFA Conference League final – even though Chelsea were not expecting him.

Mudryk, currently in limbo while he awaits the outcome of a B sample after failing a drugs test, did not fly with the rest of the team but mixed with fans and even joined in their chants in Poland.

Chelsea winger Maresca, who played and scored in the earlier rounds of the competition, even joked that he has turned up to collect his winner’s medal. Blues boss Enzo Maresca admitted he had no idea that the Ukraine winger was in the country.

Mudryk – nicknamed Mischa – was wearing a Chelsea puffer jacket but is not with the official team party and was with fans in a steak house in Wroclaw. Maresca said: “Is he here or is he coming? I’m happy for Mischa to be here. I didn’t know, I just said that. But I’m happy for Mischa to be here.”

Meanwhile, Maresca also admitted he had to convince his players the importance of the Europa Conference League earlier in the season.

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Marseca, who fielded a second string team through the early rounds, said: “Probably the most complicated thing this season about the Conference has been to convince the players that for us it was the best competition in the world.

“And the reason why was because it was the competition that we were in. So every game has been difficult, especially because I needed to convince the players that we were not able to drop nothing because you can lose points against any team.

“And we need to respect any team in Europe and any team that we face. And then I’m not focused about winning this competition or winning this trophy because my name, for sure I’m happy if we win, but I’m especially happy for the club, for the fans.

“And as you said, also because Chelsea can become the first club in Europe to win all the European competitions.”

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