João Félix has not traveled with the Chelsea squad for their Conference League fixture against FC Astana, and the reason for his absence has now been revealed. The Portuguese forward has been a standout performer in Chelsea’s League Phase matches this season, scoring four goals, including braces against Panathinaikos and FC Noah. Despite his regular involvement in cup competitions under manager Enzo Maresca, Félix’s Premier League appearances have been limited, primarily due to Cole Palmer’s impressive form in the number 10 role.
Félix made a brief appearance off the bench during Chelsea’s thrilling 4-3 Premier League victory over Tottenham on Sunday. His inclusion in that match had suggested he would travel to Kazakhstan for Thursday’s European fixture. However, Félix was notably absent from training at Cobham on Wednesday, effectively ruling him out of the trip. According to Simon Johnson of The Athletic, Félix has picked up an unspecified issue, though Chelsea has yet to confirm the details. His absence means his perfect record of appearances in the League Phase will end this week. Chelsea will hope he recovers in time for their Premier League clash with Brentford on Sunday evening.
Maresca has opted to rotate his squad for the long journey, leaving several first-team players in England to rest. Among those staying behind is Noni Madueke, who is likely to start against Brentford due to Pedro Neto’s suspension. Mykhailo Mudryk also misses out as he continues to recover from illness.
The traveling squad includes over ten academy players, signaling Maresca’s intent to balance squad depth with player development. Marc Guiu is expected to lead the Chelsea attack, while Filip Jorgensen will replace Robert Sánchez in goal. Tyrique George is also in contention for another start.
Speaking about the team selection, Maresca acknowledged the challenges of an eight-hour journey for the match. “We have to go there, we have to play, try our best, and think also about the next game,” he said. Despite the logistical difficulties, Chelsea remains committed to performing well in the Conference League while maintaining focus on domestic fixtures.
