Maresca "worried" About Djurgarden's Artificial Pitch

Chelsea head Enzo Maresca admits he is "worried" astir playing connected a much-criticised artificial aboveground successful nan semi-final of nan Conference League.

The Blues look Djurgarden connected Thursday evening connected a transportation moreover nan Swedish club's head Jani Honkavaara described arsenic "horrible" aft a lucifer against GAIS past week.

His disapproval of nan the 3Arena transportation has been echoed by Djurgarden's players and rival managers.

Work has been done to amended nan value of nan aboveground by adding other soil up of nan upcoming lucifer against Chelsea.

But Maresca, who has spent nan past fewer days analysing Djurgarden by watching their past six matches, is alert nan transportation could origin issues.

"For sure, for sure. It tin beryllium a concern. I'm a small spot worried astir that. It's wholly different [to grass]," he said.

"I cognize that successful nan past weeks moreover immoderate of their players were complaining astir nan pitch. They play each week, truthful for america it's a different one.

"But location are nary excuses, nary reasons why we are not going to compete tomorrow and nan 2nd crippled astatine all."

Despite nan pitch, Chelsea stay immense favourites to advance. In Uefa's convention rankings, nan Premier League is first and Swedish Allsvenskan is 20th, pinch Chelsea's squad worthy 44 times more, according to Transfermarkt.

But Maresca said he would not remainder players contempt Chelsea hosting Liverpool connected Sunday pinch Champions League qualification still successful nan balance, adding: "We are not successful a infinitesimal wherever we tin opportunity we determine to prevention players.

"This is simply a semi-final, it's a European title and we want to beryllium successful nan final."

Christopher Nkunku and Robert Sanchez person not travelled for nan lucifer aft picking up insignificant injuries and are being assessed but Chelsea person their strongest disposable squad successful Sweden.

Maresca added: "Now that we are successful nan semi-final, nan adjacent target is nan final, and past once, if we are capable to scope nan final, we spell for nan title.

"It's a immense title, because it's a European competition, and we tin springiness this nine nan opportunity to beryllium nan only nine successful nan world to triumph each nan European competitions. It's besides a work for me, a work for nan players to get that."

Captain Reece James antecedently said Chelsea "disrespected nan competition" aft a daze 2-1 conclusion by Legia Warsaw successful nan past round, though nan Blues still progressed 4-2 connected aggregate.