Mykhailo Mudryk pictured with medal after Chelsea win Conference League final
Mykhailo Mudryk was pictured with a medal around his neck after Chelsea won the Conference League final.
The Blues became the first team ever to complete the full set of European trophies in Poland on Wednesday night, fighting back from a shock early deficit to thrash Real Betis 4-1 at Wroclaw's Stadion Miejski thanks to an inspired display from Cole Palmer and goals from Enzo Fernandez, Nicolas Jackson, Jadon Sancho and Moises Caicedo.
It was Chelsea's maiden major trophy success of both the Todd Boehly-Clearlake ownership era and Enzo Maresca's managerial reign, as well as their first piece of silverware since they lifted the FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in early 2022.
Some of the pre-match focus in Wroclaw had been on Mudryk, whose arrival in the city on Tuesday as he posed for pictures and videos with fans in a local steakhouse wearing club attire seemed to take Maresca by surprise.
The Ukrainian winger has not played for Chelsea since late November, having been provisionally suspended after testing positive for a banned substance - reported to be meldonium - while on international duty.
Mudryk denies ever knowingly taking a banned substance and there has been no further update on his situation while he awaits the results of a 'B' sample. If that test confirms the initial adverse finding, then the 24-year-old could face a lengthy ban from football.
However despite his ongoing provisional suspension, Mudryk was eligible to receive a medal in the event of a Chelsea victory in the Conference League final, having made four appearances and scored three goals with three assists during the league phase of the competition in addition to featuring in both legs of the qualifying play-off win over Swiss side Servette.
It was initially unclear if Mudryk would attend the final or be allowed onto the pitch for the post-game presentations.
While he was not seen on the field after Chelsea's win, Mudryk was later pictured on Fernandez's Instagram Stories celebrating after the game, posing for a picture alongside the Argentine midfielder with a winners' medal around his neck.
It is not certain whether that medal is Fernandez's or one from another Chelsea player, or if Mudryk was given one of his own after the game.
Mudryk shared the post onto his own Instagram Stories, alongside a zoomed-in image of Chelsea lifting the trophy on the pitch.
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