The team news for Chelsea against AC Milan in pre-season has been confirmed.
From Hong Kong to Indonesia: Chelsea's pre-season tour of Asia is underway. Video Credit: Absolute Chelsea
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Xabi Alonso has named his Chelsea side to face AC Milan at GBK Stadium in Indonesia.
Chelsea have made the trip to Jakarta for the second game of their pre-season tour in Asia. It's the first of two games this weekend, as they face Malaysian Super League side Johor Darul Ta'zim on Sunday.
They will be hoping to conclude the tour with victories after back-to-back defeats to Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus, and have won only one of their three pre-season matches so far - the win coming against Western Sydney Wanderers.
Chelsea have been boosted by the returns of several players from the World Cup, including Mike Penders and Nicolas Jackson, who both featured against Juventus.
As the season nears, Alonso will be starting to learn and understand who his preferred starters are, and he's named another strong side to face the Rossoneri in Indonesia.
Robert Sanchez keeps his starting place in goal for Chelsea, while Pedro Neto is given the nod in attack to play his first minutes of pre-season.
New arrival Danny Welbeck leads the line, with Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer, who returns to the side after missing the Juventus defeat. However, Levi Colwill still misses out.
Like the previous games, Alonso may rotate in the second half, which could see Penders, Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, Jamie Gittens, Estevao and Geovany Quenda among those to collect minutes.
Palmer's return is a boost for Chelsea after his absence in midweek. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu
Palmer's return is a boost for Chelsea after his absence in midweek. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu
With Chelsea's match against Johor Darul Ta'zim in Malaysia on Sunday, time will tell whether Alonso has split his team up into two sides so two XIs get as close to 90 minutes to end the tour.
Time is running out for players to prove themselves ahead of their return to west London next week. Milan offers the next and penultimate opportunity to impress on the tour.
Meanwhile, AC Milan boss Rúben Amorim, formerly of Manchester United, has named former Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek in his starting side. Luka Modric is also among the 11 starters in Jakarta.
Chelsea also come up against another two former Blue, Fikayo Tomori and Christopher Nkunku, who have been named on the bench for the Italian side.
Confirmed teams for Chelsea vs AC Milan
Chelsea XI: Sanchez, Palestra, Acheampong, Fofana, Hato, Caicedo, Lavia, Palmer, Joao Pedro, Neto, Welbeck
Bench: Sharman-Lowe, Penders, Sarr, Anselmino, Tosin, Subuloye, Essugo, Nicoll-Jazuli, Watson, Walsh, Satpayev, Quenda, Gittens, Estevao, Mudryk, Jackson, Delap
AC Milan XI: Torriani, Terracciano, De Winter, Pavlović, Chukwueze, Modrić, Comotto, Estupiñán, Loftus-Cheek, Leão, Camarda
Bench: Pittarella, Bouyer, Gabbia, Tomori, Diawara, Odogu, Bartesaghi, Athekame, Vladimirov, Jashari, Fofana, Ricci, Musah, Saelemaekers, Cissè, Nkunku, Ramos