Maresca balances youth and experience for Chelsea's Astana challenge

Chelsea are set to field a blend of experienced players and academy talents in their upcoming Conference League fixture against Astana in Kazakhstan. Manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that several first-team members will play the full 90 minutes, maintaining their regular rhythm despite the challenging circumstances.

"The target since we started the season is to allow all of them, no matter the competition, to play 90 minutes every week," Maresca explained. The Blues face a daunting 16-hour round trip and sub-zero temperatures in Almaty, with the match relocated due to renovations at Astana's home stadium.

Maresca highlighted the inclusion of young prospects, stating, "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". The manager confirmed that some Under-21 players, including defender Josh Acheampong, would start the match.

With Chelsea already assured of progression in the competition, Maresca must balance European commitments with Sunday's Premier League clash against Brentford. The Chelsea boss acknowledged the potential impact on team selection, noting, "You never know whether we might need one of the guys who play tomorrow on Sunday".