Chelsea midfielder Nicholas Jackson requested to be substituted off by head coach Xabi Alonso, according to journalist Simon Johnson on social media platform X.
Sources indicate that Jackson personally arranged with Alonso to leave the pitch, allowing Ukrainian winger Mykhailo Mudryk to feature in the friendly match against Juventus and gain valuable playing time. This marked Mudryk’s first appearance since his suspension for an anti-doping violation earlier in 2024. Juventus secured a 1-0 victory. Mudryk was brought on in the 82nd minute, receiving warm applause from the bench.
The future of the Ukrainian player remains uncertain. As Xabi Alonso cautiously noted, the coaching staff will need to assess Mudryk’s actual condition before deciding whether to keep him in the squad or send him out on loan.
Related Stories
