Mudryk makes long-awaited return after drug ban but another winger is rare bright spot for Chelsea in Juventus defeat

CHELSEA are all right. As in, they are not looking bad, despite slipping to another pre-season defeat because of Edon Zhegrova’s brilliant second-half goal. Xabi Alonso suffered his second defeat as Chelsea manager Credit: Getty Edon Zhegrova fired Juventus to a 1-0 win Credit: Getty And they look well stocked with options on the right flank, even though the main headline was Mykhailo Mudryk making his return on the left, with earlier sub Nicolas Jackson being hauled off. Right winger Geovany Quenda was by far the man most likely in a tame first half as he made his Blues debut. Sign up for the Chelsea newsletter Thank you! And the Portuguese teenager combined well with another new recruit, right back Marco Palestra, who had two good chances early in the second half. Throw in Estevao, as manager Xabi Alonso did at half time, and Chelsea will cause opponents plenty of problems on that side in the coming season. Another teenager, 16-year-old Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, continued his own impressive pre-season. But it was Quenda who was the main reason to be cheerful from this low-key friendly. The 19-year-old played in a number of positions for Sporting Lisbon and was mainly a wing back under former boss Ruben Amorim. Alonso, unless he reverts to his own favoured 3-4-3 formation, seems to regard Quenda as an out-and-out winger. Most read in Sport CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Mykhailo Mudryk made his first Chelsea appearance in 20 months Credit: Getty And the young man justified that assessment. Chelsea fans were frustrated with some of their wide players last season for repeatedly turning inside or backwards, rather than taking on their man. Quenda looks to be all left foot, following the modern trend for inverted wingers, but he showed real intent from the start, always trying to make something happen. A fine cross laid on an early chance for fellow debutant Danny Welbeck, who headed wide. Quenda did not always make the right decision, but he did when he played in Palestra to cross and force a last-ditch clearance. He also showed willingness to come inside into a No10 position to link play. Jamie Gittens, on the left, showed flashes of invention, and was the target of some robust Italian defending as the Blues controlled much of the first half. But the warning signs were there for Alonso’s side towards the end of the opening period. Nicoll-Jazuli and Moises Caicedo, who returned after World Cup duty, were guilty of ball-watching as Fabio Miretti started to find space. Geovany Quenda was Chelsea’s most exciting player Credit: Getty Nicolas Jackson was hauled off just 35 minutes after being subbed on Credit: Getty Former Blue Jeremie Boga forced Robert Sanchez into the only save of the half just before the break. This was always going to be a game about getting minutes in the legs of players, especially those making their first pre-season appearance. Nicolas Jackson and goalkeeper Mike Penders were among four players to come on at half time and Estevao, who replaced Quenda, immediately looked determined not to be upstaged. Palestra should certainly have done better with the second of his two chances, after being played through over the top by Caicedo. But his tame shot was easily saved. The game drifted until, straight after Alonso had made six changes at once, his new-look team conceded the only goal. Most of Juventus’ threat had come down the right and after another break down that flank, Kosovo international Zhegrova was given time just outside the area to curl a beauty past the helpless Penders. In between shots on target by Estevao and Dastan Satpayev, Mudryk played his first minutes for Chelsea since November 2024. Back from his drugs ban, the Ukrainian replaced Jackson, who had either picked up a knock or suffered the embarrassment of being a subbed sub. Some good work from Liam Delap gave Mudryk the chance to show his place and get in a dangerous cross. Another defeat, after the loss to 10-man Spurs, was a disappointment. But Quenda, in particular, was not. Comment now