Chelsea will leave a host of first-team stars in London when they travel to Kazakhstan to face Astana in the Conference League on Thursday.
The Blues have won all four of their group stage games in the competition so far and sit top of the table, giving Enzo Maresca licence to prioritise Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Brentford by sparing key players the eight-hour flight.
“Some of [the senior players] are going to be here [at Cobham] and some of them are going to fly with us,” Maresca said. “More or less we try to manage in the same way we have done until today. We have many young players, 17 players with us and the rest are going to be here working.
“I think we are 11 or 12 players [staying in London] and eight or nine flying.”
Maresca confirmed that young full-back Josh Acheampong will be among the academy graduates involved and is expected to start, bringing to an end his near-three-month exile over a contract dispute.
Chelsea have confirmed a young squad has made the long journey as Maresca’s rotation policy continues.
Midfielder Cesare Casadei, who has featured in all four group games so far, is suspended after his late sending off against Heidenheim.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Jorgensen; Acheampong, Disasi, Tosin, Veiga; Dewsbury-Hall, Chukwuemeka; George, Nkunku, Neto; Guiu.
Injured: Fofana, James
Suspended: Casadei
Time and date: 3:30pm GMT on Thursday December 12, 2024
Venue: Almaty Ortalyk Stadium
TV channel and live stream: TNT Sports