When Chelsea plays Kazakhstan’s Astana in the UEFA Conference League on Wednesday, manager Enzo Maresca stated that the team’s outstanding performance will be put to the test due to two eight-hour flights and temperatures far below freezing. (astana vs chelsea football match uefa europa conference)
Ahead of their matchup with London rivals Brentford this weekend, Chelsea, now ranked second in the Premier League, is being predicted to be a strong contender for the championship. (astana vs chelsea football match uefa europa conference)
However, they have to go to the outskirts of Asia before they can concentrate on that derby. This journey is made even more difficult by the fact that Astana’s home games have been shifted 600 miles from the capital to Almaty due to stadium repairs. (astana vs chelsea football match uefa europa conference)
Additionally, the flight is diverted from the Russian and Ukrainian combat zones. (astana vs chelsea football match uefa europa conference)
“We have to go there, we have to play, and we want to try to do our best, thinking also about the next game,” Maresca told reporters, adding that eight hours (one way) is not a typical amount of time to travel for a game. (astana vs chelsea football match uefa europa conference)
Maresca has chosen to leave a number of players at home, including England winger Noni Madueke and Cole, while Chelsea leads the Conference League standings with four straight victories. (astana vs chelsea football match uefa europa conference)
Josh Acheampong, 18, is a certain starter on Thursday, while the team also includes youth players Ato Ampah, Shumaira Mheuka, Harrison McMahon, Kaiden Wilson, Richard Olise, and Harrison Murray-Campbell. (astana vs chelsea football match uefa europa conference)
“On Sunday, we might need one of the guys who play tomorrow; you never know.” Ideally, we would rather not. It is not typical for one of them to play again on Sunday, and we will be landing at 6 a.m. on Friday,” Maresca stated. “But if we need them, they are going to make the effort.” (astana vs chelsea football match uefa europa conference)
Axel Disasi, a defender for France, is one player who will start. (astana vs chelsea football match uefa europa conference)
He remarked, “I just need to put on my gloves and be ready to compete.” (astana vs chelsea football match uefa europa conference)
“We know this is a European game and we have to fight to keep first place at the end, so I will be putting on two pairs of gloves, watching some movies, and being ready for the eight-hour flight and minus eleven.” (astana vs chelsea football match uefa europa conference)
To allow them extra time to prepare, Chelsea’s game against Brentford will start at 1900 GMT on Sunday. (astana vs chelsea football match uefa europa conference)
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