Confirmed Chelsea XI to face Johor Darul Ta’zim: Xabi Alonso makes 11 changes from Milan win

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Chavarria is expected to cost around £21m with add-ons.

A brace from Joao Pedro and a delicious volley from Moises Caicedo saw Chelsea secure a fourth, and by far the most impressive win of pre-season. They have also beaten Western Sydney, Bromley and Crawley.

Xabi Alonso uses the players that did not play – or play much – to face Johor Darul Ta’Zim. Team news is below, with kick-off scheduled for 1pm at the 40,000-capacity venue where it is currently 33 degrees.

Xabi Alonso makes 11 changes to face Malaysian champions

On Saturday, Tosin Adarabioyo, Liam Delap, Dario Essugo, Jamie Gittens, Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, Mike Penders, Dastan Satpaev, Tayo Subuloye and Reggie Walsh failed to play at all for Alonso’s side.

Aaron Anselmino, Mykhailo Mudryk, Estevao, Reggie Watson and Mamadou Sarr featured for less than 10 minutes. It comes as no surprise that the Chelsea starting XI today is made up of that group of players.

Teddy Sharman-Lowe returns in goal, while youngster Nicoll-Jazuli gets another start with Essugo in midfield. It looks like a 4-4-2 formation, with Geovany Quenda used as a makeshift left-back.

That, or it could be a 3-4-1-2 system with Estevao playing in the no.10 position, while Quenda and Gittens operate as wing-backs. Nicolas Jackson gets his first start since returning to Chelsea from Bayern Munich.

CONFIRMED: Chelsea XI to face Johor Darul Ta’zim.

Xabi Alonso has made 11 changes!

What to expect from Johor Darul Ta’zim

More simply known as JDT, the Malaysian champions won their 12th consecutive Super League title last season. They boast an enormous squad, largely made up of Malaysian, Spanish and Brazilian players.

There are a few anomalies too. A couple of Argentine players, a Bosnian, a French player and even a South Korean make up a team managed by former Watford and Sheffield Wednesday boss Xisco Munoz.

By some distance, however, the standout player is Brazilian striker Bergson. Since joining on loan initially in 2021 from Brazilian side Fortaleza, he has amassed a huge 163 goals – remarkably, in just 159 games.

Spanish winger Oscar Arribas laid on 20 assists last season, while attacker Jairo had a hand in a massive 31 goals. While Chelsea should cruise to victory, don’t be surprised if JDT score a goal or two today.