Chelsea are facing renewed fixture problems in the Europa Conference League after their league phase clash against Astana has been moved over 700 miles away.
The Blues were scheduled to fly to Kazakhstan in December for the third-tier European competition clash, but will now be travelling to a different location closer to the China border.
Stadium renovation work at the 30,000-seater Astana stadium has forced the venue change which means the Blues will instead be playing on the other side of Kazakhstan.
Enzo Maresca’s side will make the long-haul trip to the Almaty Ortalyk Stadion in Almaty on the Kyrgyzstan border instead, which is just 250 miles from China.
The changed venue will require Chelsea’s players to embark on a flight lasting over eight hours, with supportive Blues fans wanting to travel for the game facing expensive costs.
Chelsea are facing renewed fixture problems in the Europa Conference League after their league phase clash against Astana has been moved over 700 miles away
Enzo Maresca’s side will make the long-haul trip to the Almaty Ortalyk Stadion in Almaty
Freezing cold temperatures across Kazakhstan regularly sees the mercury drop below -5 degrees during December and to make matters worse is the fact that the stadium Chelsea will be playing at doesn’t have a roof.
That means players, coaching staff and supporters will be subjected to extreme winter weather conditions throughout the game, with heavy snow and ice a possibility.
The multi-purpose stadium also features a running track that circles the pitch and operates as Kazakhstan’s national football ground.
Chelsea will kick-start their Europa Conference League campaign at Stamford Bridge against Gent on October 3.
They will then jet off to Athens, Greece to play Panathinaikos before returning to London where they will host Armenian FC Noah.
The Blues will contest six clashes in the group stages of the Europa Conference League
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca will now take his Blues squad to the other side of Kazakhstan
A trip to German team Heidenheim will prelude Chelsea’s journey to Kazakhstan before the Blues complete their initial Conference League fixtures against Shamrock Rovers.
Cole Palmer is amongst the Blues players that won’t have to make the arduous European trips after being omitted from Chelsea’s initial Europa Conference League squad.