Chelsea fans fume at state of pitch for Western Sydney Wanderers friendly as they fear pre-season injuries

CHELSEA fans are scared for their first live pre-season clash after seeing the state of the pitch. Xabi Alonso has taken his side to Western Sydney Wanderers and the Accor Stadium – but pics of the ground are worrying many. Chelsea fans are scared about the pitch for their first pre-season friendly Credit: sunsport Rugby matches are regularly played at the stadium in Western Sydney Credit: sunsport Patchy grass is seen across the pitch at the home of rugby league outfit South Sydney Rabbitohs and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. New South Wales Blues have also played there with Australia‘s national rugby matches also featured on occasion. Sign up for the Chelsea newsletter Thank you! Multi-sports markings were still visible on the pitch ahead of kick-off on Tuesday morning. Three games were played at the arena over the weekend – and Chelsea trained elsewhere in preparation. Nervous supporters, who may well remember star Christopher Nkunku going down in the last game of Mauricio Pochettino‘s 2023 summer tour of America, are praying for no injuries. One wrote on X: “The pitch in Sydney doesn’t look good at all. Chelsea players need to be extra careful on this pitch”. Another added: “I hope this pitch is injury free”. A third said: “Why are they using it?! Before the guys will start getting injured”. Most read in Sport SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS The Chelsea Blueprint on YouTube Calling all Chelsea fans - we have a brand new YouTube channel! Someone else commented: “hopefully no one get injured. No complaints even if we play only academy and squad fringe players.” Three years ago, in the last match before the Prem started, Nkunku went down against Borussia Dortmund and busted his knee. It came just days after an Ed Sheeran concert had been hosted on the same pitch and left Chelsea fans reeling. Nkunku hardly featured under Poch due to the injury and never truly recovered. Alonso will be desperate to avoid any repeats with a clash against Tottenham at the same ground to come on Saturday. Chelsea then travel to Hong Kong for the second leg of their tour with games against Juventus, AC Milan, and Johor Darul Ta’zim. They end back at Stamford Bridge against Alonso’s former club Real Sociedad. The Blues won both behind-closed-doors friendlies against EFL opponents Crawley and Bromley before heading to the other side of the world. Comment now