Chelsea’s Maresca Discusses Squad Travel, Acheampong’s Status, and Conference League Outlook

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca addressed reporters ahead of the club’s Conference League match on Thursday in Kazakhstan against Astana, scheduled for a 15:30 GMT kick-off. The following are the main points from his press briefing: Maresca stated that “17 young players” would make the trip to Kazakhstan, while the remaining squad members would stay at Cobham for training in preparation for Sunday’s Premier League fixture against Brentford. Regarding defender Josh Acheampong, Maresca indicated that he “is in the squad and is probably going to play from the start,” also mentioning that an agreement concerning Acheampong’s future is “close” to finalization. Addressing the journey to Central Asia, Maresca commented, “Eight hours [flight] is not a normal time for a game, but we have to play and we will try to do our best.” He further confirmed that the team plans to maintain English time to assist with managing the time zone change. The Chelsea boss identified the return flight as the primary concern, noting that the team is scheduled to land at 06:00 GMT on Friday, allowing for a limited recovery period before Sunday’s match. Maresca conveyed a particular message to the Chelsea supporters making the journey, stating: “We always appreciate fans and the people that come with us, but now even more so because of the amount of hours and the temperature it will be.” Maresca light-heartedly remarked that he “will be taking many layers,” anticipating temperatures potentially reaching -11 degrees Celsius. Following Pedro Neto’s yellow card received against Tottenham, which results in his suspension for the Brentford game, Maresca confirmed that Noni Madueke would not join the trip to Kazakhstan. The England international winger is expected to step in for Neto against the Bees. Regarding Neto’s yellow card, Maresca commented: “The yellow was a normal yellow card. The problem is when we receive pointless ones, but it was the right moment for the foul.” Maresca expressed that Cole Palmer “absolutely” possesses the potential to achieve world-class status, though he “can still do many things better and improve.” When asked if he views Chelsea as favorites to win the Conference League, Maresca responded: “No. The main target is to go to the group stage and then on and on. I don’t like to think about anything more. It is not about ambitions. I am ambitious – the players and the club all are – but in my opinion, if you think too far ahead, you can lose your focus on the now.”