Chelsea vs AC Milan presents Xabi Alonso with an unusual selection problem on Saturday, with the Blues due to play again in Malaysia almost exactly 24 hours later.
Chelsea face Milan at 1pm BST in Jakarta before meeting Johor Darul Ta’zim at 1pm BST on Sunday. Alonso therefore has to balance the need for a stronger performance with protecting players during the final stretch of a demanding tour.
The Blues enter the Milan game after defeats against Tottenham and Juventus, making Saturday valuable for more than fitness alone. ReadChelsea’s full Chelsea vs AC Milan viewing guide has the kick-off time and streaming details.
Chelsea vs AC Milan could reveal Alonso’s priority players
Alonso has repeatedly used pre-season to assess a large squad, but his choices against Milan should provide another clue about which players currently sit closest to his strongest side.
Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill were both absent from Wednesday’s 1-0 defeat against Juventus after minor fitness issues. Their involvement on Saturday would immediately strengthen Chelsea, although Alonso has little reason to take unnecessary risks.
The unusual schedule complicates those decisions.
Chelsea’s official tour itinerary confirms the Milan and Johor Darul Ta’zim matches are being played on consecutive days, with the squad travelling from Indonesia to Malaysia between them.
That almost certainly requires significant rotation.
Players such as Reece James, Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Pedro Neto have joined the tour at different stages, while Alonso has also given substantial minutes to younger players and new arrivals.
Saturday could therefore tell us which group he wants exposed to the stronger opposition.
Milan should offer a demanding examination. Their squad includes several players familiar to Chelsea supporters, including Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fikayo Tomori and Christopher Nkunku, while new signing Goncalo Ramos adds another threat in attack.
Alonso needs progress after Juventus defeat
Results are not the priority in pre-season, but Chelsea still need greater fluency.
The defeat to Juventus followed a 2-1 loss against Tottenham and Chelsea struggled to create enough clear opportunities in either game.
Alonso has spoken positively about the relationships forming within his group. ReadChelsea covered his message about developing a side capable of competing anywhere, with the manager placing significant emphasis on trust and togetherness.
The Chelsea head coach also told the club’s official website that he has been pleased with the attitude and personality displayed throughout the tour.
Milan now provide another opportunity to turn those encouraging words into a more convincing performance.
The strongest indication may come before a ball is kicked.
If Alonso uses Palmer, Caicedo, Fernandez and his senior defenders against Milan before rotating heavily on Sunday, it would provide the clearest indication yet of the group he currently trusts for Chelsea’s biggest games.
With the Premier League opener against Fulham approaching, those clues are becoming increasingly valuable.
