SEESAW DRAW IN MALAYSIA GIVES XABI ALONSO FOOD FOR THOUGHT AT CHELSEA
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| Source | Latest linked headline | Age |
|---|---|---|
| Sport | The Guardian | SEESAW DRAW IN MALAYSIA GIVES XABI ALONSO FOOD FOR THOUGHT AT CHELSEA | 3 hrs ago |
WHAT HAPPENED
Chelsea finished a 3‑3 draw with Malaysian champions Johor Darul Ta'zim in a pre‑season friendly, with Delap scoring twice from the penalty spot. The match, played at the end of the club’s Malaysian tour, showed manager Xabi Alonso’s extensive squad rotation, as he made 11 changes from the side that had beaten AC Milan the previous day.
According to Sport | The Guardian, the game exposed concerns about Chelsea’s forward line, citing a bloated number of attackers and echoes of last season’s inexperience and indiscipline. Alonso now has less than two weeks to integrate key players before the Premier League opener against Fulham on 24 August, where Fulham will be managed by his old friend Álvaro Arbeloa. The friendly followed a 2‑1 win over Milan with a strong lineup only 24 hours earlier, 600 miles away.
Chelsea finished 10th in the Premier League last season and have tasked Alonso with steering the club into Champions League qualification. The match is part of a pre‑season campaign aimed at building cohesion and fitness ahead of the league start.
- 3‑3 draw against Johor Darul Ta'zim with Delap scoring twice from the spot.
- Xabi Alonso made 11 changes from the squad that beat Milan the previous day.
- Less than two weeks remain before the Premier League opener vs Fulham on 24 August.
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