Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca described his side’s 16-hour round trip to Kazakhstan for their Europa Conference League clash against Astana, while still having to play in the Premier League on Sunday as “not normal.”
The Blues embarked on a 3,700-mile journey to Almaty in southern Kazakhstan, due to renovations at Astana’s home ground. The match is set to take place at the Almaty Central Stadium, located 600 miles from the Kazakh capital.
Maresca and his charges will return to London on Friday morning and quickly shift focus to their Premier League clash with Brentford, as they aim to maintain their impressive start to the domestic campaign.
“Eight hours is not a normal time for a game, but we have to go there, we have to play, and we want to try to do our best, thinking also about the next game,” said Maresca.
Currently top of the UECL table, Maresca has utilized the luxury of resting several first-team players ahead of their trip to Astana. He also confirmed defender Josh Acheampong will make his senior debut following progress in contract talks.
Youth-team players Ato Ampah, Shumaira Mheuka, Harrison McMahon, Kaiden Wilson, Richard Olise, and Harrison Murray-Campbell are included in the traveling squad.
“The ones that are not involved tomorrow, first of all, they’re going to be training, and they have to train well,” added Maresca.
“You never know whether we might need one of the guys who play tomorrow on Sunday. Ideally, we prefer not.
“We are going to land at 6am on Friday, and it’s not normal for one of them, if they land at 6am on Friday, to play again on Sunday.
“But if we need [them to], they are going to make the effort.”
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