Chelsea continued their dominance in the Conference League with a comfortable 3-1 win over Astana. However, the match raised questions about whether the Blues need to be as strong as they have been when fielding second-string sides in the competition.
With four teenagers in the starting XI, Chelsea showed no signs of weakness, easing to victory despite the freezing conditions. The result means progression to the knockout stages is assured, with a top-eight finish also confirmed.
While the win was never in doubt, the question remains whether Chelsea could have rotated their squad more heavily throughout the group stage. With a busy period ahead, including a Premier League title challenge, managing squad depth will be crucial.
The Blues face a tough run of fixtures in the coming weeks, starting with a home match against Brentford on Sunday. They then travel to Goodison Park to face Everton before hosting Fulham on Boxing Day. The year ends with a trip to Portman Road to face Ipswich Town.
Chelsea’s title rivals, Liverpool and Arsenal, also face challenging fixtures. Liverpool host Fulham before travelling to Southampton in the Carabao Cup. They then face Tottenham, Leicester City, and West Ham in the Premier League.
Arsenal host Everton before welcoming Crystal Palace in both the Premier League and Carabao Cup. They then travel to Ipswich Town before finishing the year at Brentford.
Manchester City, meanwhile, face Manchester United, Aston Villa, Everton, Leicester City, and West Ham in their next five matches.
With a busy festive period ahead, all four teams will need to manage their squads carefully if they are to maintain their title challenges.
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