Enzo Maresca will ring in the changes when Chelsea and Astana face off in a UEFA Europa Conference League tie at Ortalyq Stadion on Thursday.
Chelsea will aim to continue the perfect start to the 2024/25 UEFA Europa Conference League campaign when they lock horns with Astana at Ortalyq Stadion on Thursday evening. And Enzo Maresca has omitted several high-profile names for his side’s latest fixture.
While Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia, Cole Palmer, Ben Chilwell, and Marcus Bettinelli were already omitted from the UEFA Europa Conference League group, Maresca has excluded Malo Gusto, Benoit Badiashile, Christopher Nkunku, Joao Felix, and many others from the travelling squad.
In addition, Cesare Casadei serves a suspension after seeing red in the Matchday 4 clash with FC Heidenheim. The travelling squad features several academy prospects, including Richard Olise, Kaiden Wilson and Ato Ampah. Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Maresca spoke about the group’s composition while confirming a start for a young prodigy.
The Chelsea manager said, “We have a session this morning. The general decision [over the squad] is already there but we will see. Some of them will be here, some of them will fly with us. We try to manage in the same way we have done until today. We have many young players with us, the rest will be working.”
“The target since we started the season is to allow all of them, no matter the competition, to play 90 minutes every week. Most of those who play tomorrow would have also played against Southampton last week.”
“So we will try to keep them in the regular situation of playing 90 minutes every week. This is what we’re trying to do. For the younger ones, it is to enjoy this moment because it’s always nice to be involved in the first team and involved in a European competition.”
Maresca confirmed Josh Acheampong would start, and the youngster will join Axel Disasi, Tosin Adarabioyo, and Renato Vega in the backline. Filip Jorgensen is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Chelsea lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Astana.
As for the midfield unit, Carney Chukwuemeka and Sam Rak-Sakyi should make rare starts. Marc Guiu will lead the line for the away side against Astana, while Pedro Neto, Tyrique George, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall will complete the numbers in the final third. Harvey Vale, Kiano Dyer, and Ato Ampah should appear off the bench.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Jorgensen; Acheampong, Disasi, Adarabioyo, Veiga; Rak-Sakyi, Chukwuemeka; Neto, Dewsbury-Hall, George; Guiu