Some concerns have been raised with Chelsea’s preparations for the first leg of the UEFA Conference League semi-final against Djurgarden on Thursday (May 1). There are challenges with the artificial pitch at Stockholm’s 3Arena.
The pitch has been roundly condemned by visiting teams, and now, by Djurgarden’s own players. Winger Adam Stahl expressed frustration about the new turf. He revealed that the ball moves chaotically, often spoiling passing moves.
He pointed out that the surface at the 3Arena is very different from that at the training ground of the team, making even ordinary plays complicated. Forward August Priske joined the discussion, describing the pitch as “challenging.”
The development will be unwelcome for Chelsea, who need to come up with a positive result in the away leg. The Blues will be the favorites. However, this strange and possibly problematic surface could affect the outcome of the game.
Enzo Maresca and his players need to adapt to the conditions at the 3Arena for the team as they chase their European ambitions.
Chelsea Take on Djurgardens in Conference League Semi-finals
Chelsea continue their quest for European silverware this Thursday, as they travel to Sweden to face Djurgardens. This is the Blues’ first European semifinal since lifting the Champions League under Thomas Tuchel in 2021.
They have shown their strength in the Conference League by scoring an impressive 33 goals in just nine matches. Recently, they have been put to the test in the semifinals, thrashing Legia Warsaw 3-0 away and following up with a 2-1 loss at home.
Chelsea face a fierce domestic battle for Champions League qualification and are currently placed fifth in the Premier League. They have sustained an unbeaten run in the league for the last five matches, beating Fulham and Everton. This is thanks, in no small part, to the contributions of Tyrique George and Nicolas Jackson.
