Enzo Maresca blocked Chelsea star Mykhaylo Mudryk from representing Ukraine in the Summer Olympics
Chelsea has reportedly barred Mykhaylo Mudryk from representing Ukraine at this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris as new manager Enzo Maresca wants to avoid the injury difficulties that plagued Mauricio Pochettino’s side last season, and he expects that a tight approach to his players’ summer plans will help him do so. This is according to Daily Mail.
With the Olympics starting next month, reports from The Daily Mail claim that Chelsea has taken steps to prevent some of its top players from competing. Mudryk will be absent from Ukraine’s team, while Enzo Fernandez’s trip to Paris has also been obstructed as Argentina prepares to fight without him.
Fellow Blues players Benoit Badiashile and Malo Gusto are expected to be prevented from representing France at their home Olympics, but the young prospect Lesley Ugochukwu has been granted the go-ahead.
Mudryk and Fernandez are already playing in events this summer, at Euro 2024 and Copa America, respectively.
The 23-year-old left-winger, who joined Chelsea in January last year, scored five goals and assisted twice in the Premier League last season.
Maresca guided Leicester City to the Championship championship last season, but he has never managed a game in a top European league.
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The Blues are under pressure to improve next season after struggling to establish a winning formula under successive managers.
Pochettino guided them to sixth place in the Premier League last season, but even more is expected of their expensively formed group under their new manager.
The Italian will require all hands on deck as Chelsea prepares to play in the Premier League, Carabao Cup, FA Cup, Europa Conference League, and Club World Cup next season.