Chelsea arrives in Almaty for Conference League match against Astana
London’s Chelsea has landed in Almaty ahead of their Conference League group stage match against the capital’s club, Astana, reports a Kazinform News Agency correspondent.
“Safely landed in Almaty,” reads a message on the English club’s social media.
Safely landed in Almaty. 📌 pic.twitter.com/6NaiNw4Lzg
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 11, 2024
The game will be broadcast live today on the “Qazsport” TV channel, starting at 20:20 pm Kazakhstan time.
Chelsea Squad for the Match:
- Goalkeepers: Philip Jorgensen, Lucas Bergstrom, Max Merrick;
- Defenders: Axel Disasi, Tosin Adarabioyo, Renato Veiga, Josh Achimpong, Harrison Murray-Campbell, Richard Olise, Kayden Wilson;
- Midfielders: Carney Chukwuemeka, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Keano Dyer, Samuel Rak-Sakyi, Harvey Vale;
- Forwards: Pedro Neto, Ato Ampa, Tyrique George, Marc Guehi, Shumaira Mheuka.
Chelsea has arrived with a somewhat fragmented squad, featuring only a few players who have had significant time in the Premier League this season. Pedro Neto, considered the team’s leader for the day, played nearly the entire match against Tottenham earlier in the week, raising doubts about whether he will start at the Central Stadium. Despite the reduced squad, the total market value of Chelsea’s visiting players is an impressive €208 million over 20 times that of Astana’s squad, valued at €10.2 million.
Hundreds of dedicated Chelsea fans have made the journey to Kazakhstan, enduring long flights and temperatures plummeting below -10°C.
“We appreciate it because it is a long flight and the temperature is crazy,” said French center-back Axel Disasi.
Head coach Maresca also expressed his gratitude, saying: “We always appreciate the fans and the people, who come with us, and with this game, even more so because of the temperature and the journey. We always appreciate them and this game probably even more.”
