This match may give Chelsea players minmal recovery time
Image credit: DStv Uganda
Chelsea FC is bracing for a demanding trip to Kazakhstan for their Conference League match against Astana, with head coach Enzo Maresca highlighting the challenges ahead. The Blues face a daunting 16-hour round trip, leaving them with minimal recovery time before their Premier League fixture against Brentford.
The journey to Almaty involves an eight-hour flight covering 3,700 miles (6,000km) each way, as Chelsea’s opponents are temporarily based there due to stadium renovations in the Kazakh capital. The team will return to London early on Friday, preparing to face Brentford on Sunday evening.
“Eight hours [one way] is not a typical travel time for a match, but we have to go there, compete, and keep our focus on the upcoming game,” Maresca said. Chelsea currently leads the Conference League group with an unblemished record, while in the Premier League, they trail Liverpool by four points.
The flight path is extended to avoid conflict zones in Ukraine, Russia, and Syria. In addition, the squad must adapt to temperatures dropping to -11C and will remain on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) during their brief 18-hour stay, despite the five-hour time difference.
Maresca plans to rest several first-team players for the Kazakhstan trip, including England winger Noni Madueke. Portugal’s Pedro Neto will miss Sunday’s match against Brentford due to suspension. Instead, several youth players such as Ato Ampah, Shumaira Mheuka, and Harrison McMahon will travel.
Rising star Josh Acheampong, set to start on Thursday, is nearing a new contract with the club. Notably, key players like Cole Palmer, Romeo Lavia, Wesley Fofana, and the exiled Ben Chilwell are not registered for this UEFA competition.
“The players not involved in tomorrow’s match will train hard, as we might need them on Sunday,” said Maresca. “Landing at 6 am on Friday makes it tough for anyone to be ready for a Sunday game, but they will make the effort if necessary.”
Defender Axel Disasi, who will play despite the harsh weather, commented, “We just need to be prepared with extra gloves and focus on maintaining our position.”
In light of the challenging schedule, the Premier League has granted Chelsea a later kick-off time for the Brentford match, which is set for 19:00 GMT on Sunday.