Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca will take a much-changed squad to Kazakhstan for tomorrow evening’s Convention League conflict with Astana – with Noni Madueke certainly one of his senior gamers that won’t journey.
Chelsea have cruised by their fixtures in Europe’s third-tier competitors, successful all 4 to maneuver to the highest of the desk and nearly assure themselves automated qualification to the spherical of 16.
With a busy festive interval looming, and an eight-hour flight to take care of, Maresca admits there shall be a youthful look to his facet.
Requested if this recreation was a possibility to relaxation senior gamers, he mentioned: “A few of them are going to be right here [in England] and a few of them are going to fly with us. Kind of we’re going to attempt to handle in the identical method we’ve got finished till at this time. We’ve got many younger gamers with us and the remaining are going to be right here working.”
5,606km away from dwelling for our subsequent #UECL conflict. ✈️🌏 pic.twitter.com/5KPsk3MuFj
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 11, 2024
Madueke shall be remaining within the UK with the England winger set to return to the primary XI for the sport with Brentford on the weekend with Pedro Neto suspended following his reserving within the thrilling 4-3 win at Spurs on Sunday.
Encouraging replace on Acheampong
Teenager Josh Acheampong is more likely to begin tomorrow with Maresca revealing the extremely rated defender is near agreeing a brand new contract following a stand-off that reportedly noticed him frozen out.
The Italian mentioned: “With Josh it’s all fairly clear. All of us love Josh, the membership loves Josh, I like Josh and we’re looking for an settlement. We’re shut, we’re nearly there. We’ll see.
“He’s within the squad and might be going to play from the beginning.”
Chelsea are overwhelming favourites to win the Convention League however Maresca was not wanting that far forward, preferring as an alternative to concentrate on the right here and now.
“No, I’ve mentioned already about this competitors the principle goal is to go to the subsequent stage and the subsequent one,” he mentioned. “The goal is to go to the subsequent one and if we obtain the subsequent one then the subsequent one. I don’t like to consider issues in 4 or 5 months.
“It’s not about ambition. I’m fairly formidable and the gamers and the membership are formidable however for my part if you consider issues in 4 or 5 months then you possibly can lose a little bit of concentrate on the now.”
Gamers will keep on English time
A visit to Kazakhstan is a problem logistically however the Chelsea gamers will stay on English time in a bid to minimise disruption.
Maresca mentioned: “We’ve got a session from time to time we’ll fly there. We may have dinner and go to mattress. Luckily, they’re 5 hours forward of us so which means after we get up tomorrow it’s already noon right here in England.
“We’re going to be there lower than 24 hours, however it’s extra the flight and the temperature [-11C] for certain. On Friday morning we’re going to land round 6am in London and it’s already Friday and we’ve got a recreation Sunday, however we’ve got to play.”
