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Chelsea's pre-season tour of Australia has begun with concern off the pitch as supporters questioned the playing surface at Accor Stadium.
Images of the venue prompted fears over player safety during the Blues' friendly against Western Sydney Wanderers.
Chelsea fans unhappy with Accor Stadium pitch
Chelsea supporters voiced their concerns over the condition of the Accor Stadium pitch before the club's first pre-season clash.
Photos from the venue showed a patchy playing surface with visible rugby markings still present after a busy weekend of events at the multi-purpose stadium.
Accor Stadium is home to NRL sides South Sydney Rabbitohs and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and regularly hosts rugby league, rugby union and major entertainment events, leaving the surface under heavy use.
Supporters took to social media to express their worries, with many hoping the uneven-looking pitch would not lead to injuries ahead of the new campaign.
The concerns are understandable given Chelsea's recent pre-season injury history.
Christopher Nkunku suffered a serious knee injury during the club's 2023 summer tour in the United States after a match played on a surface that had hosted a concert just days earlier.
Chelsea are due to return to the Sydney venue later this week to face Tottenham Hotspur before continuing their tour with fixtures in Hong Kong.
With several high-profile players still building fitness ahead of the Premier League season, the club will be keen to carefully manage workloads during the remainder of the tour.
FGG says: Multi-purpose venues face a difficult balancing act
Accor Stadium is one of Australia's leading multi-purpose venues, but hosting multiple sports and events in quick succession can inevitably place pressure on the playing surface.
Ensuring a safe pitch for elite football remains one of the biggest challenges for stadium operators.
Chelsea's concerns will be shared by many clubs touring around the world. While no one wants to overreact to pre-season conditions, player welfare has to remain the priority.