Chelsea face AC Milan in Jakarta on Saturday in the first of a double-header of weekend friendlies on their pre-season tour of Asia.
The Blues are looking to bounce back quickly after losing for the second game in a row under Xabi Alonso as they were beaten 1-0 by Juventus in Hong Kong on Wednesday.
After beginning their pre-season preparations with three successive wins against Crawley, Bromley and Western Sydney Wanderers, Chelsea have now suffered back-to-back defeats after also being stunned in the last seconds by 10-man rivals Tottenham in Australia.
Alonso seeks momentum
There is not yet any cause for concern for new boss Alonso, but with only three weeks left until the latest Premier League season begins, the Spaniard will be keen to start recovering some momentum.
The bulk of Chelsea’s first-team squad are now back following the World Cup, and Alonso is expected to field a strong team against AC Milan as the new season draws closer. The Blues also face Johor Darul Ta'zim in Malaysia on Sunday.
Chelsea’s defeat by Juventus - sealed by a stunning second-half strike from Kosovo winger Edon Zhegrova at Kai Tak Stadium - was dominated by the return of Mykhailo Mudryk after he resolved his anti-doping disciplinary proceedings with the Football Association (FA).
The Ukrainian is now firmly in the shop window, with several clubs interested in signing him on loan, and he could be in line for his first start as a Chelsea player since November 2024.
Team news and injury updates
Robert Sanchez made his return from injury against Juventus. But with young Belgian goalkeeper Mike Penders waiting in the wings, it will be interesting to see who Alonso opts for from the start against Milan as both battle for the No1 jersey.
Alonso will also be anxiously waiting to see if Levi Colwill and Cole Palmer are fit to play after the pair were not risked on another patchy playing surface in midweek.
The decision not to play Colwill or Palmer was described as merely precautionary, and so they should both be in contention for minutes this weekend.
Chelsea have not looked sure of themselves defensively under Alonso, but he will argue that his inability to field a settled backline has contributed to some shaky performances.
That is why the return of Colwill, who missed the majority of last season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, will be crucial as the manager seeks to build some familiarity at the back.
Positives from pre-season
Results in pre-season are often overstated, and while Alonso will have learned a few lessons, there have also been plenty of positives so far.
Chief among those has been the rise of 16-year-old midfielder Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, who impressed on his first senior start against Juventus.
The Sydney-born England youth international was selected ahead of both Romeo Lavia and Dario Essugo to partner Moises Caicedo as Alonso put his faith in the Cobham graduate.
Geovany Quenda was another who impressed in an otherwise flat Chelsea performance, with the 19-year-old winger proving he is ready to make an immediate impact following his £40million move from Sporting.
Expected rotation
With two games to come in the space of just 24 hours in different countries, Alonso is expected to rotate as he manages minutes and injury risks.
Saturday’s game against Serie A giants AC Milan in Jakarta is likely to feature a near full-strength team, while those who are not as heavily involved will presumably get the nod against Malaysian side Johor Darul Ta'zim on Sunday.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Penders; Palestra, Fofana, Colwill, Hato; Lavia, Caicedo; Estevao, Palmer, Mudryk; Joao Pedro
Doubts: Colwill, Palmer
Time and date: 1pm BST on Saturday August 8, 2026
Venue: Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia
How to watch: CFC+
