Xabi Alonso has spoken to the media after Chelsea's 3-0 win over AC Milan
Manager Xabi Alonso of Chelsea during a press conference at GBK Stadium on August 7, 2026 in Jakarta, Indonesia
Xabi Alonso has worked his magic(Image: Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
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Xabi Alonso has congratulated Romeo Lavia for completing his first full game in just over two years. The 22-year-old midfielder was one of just four Chelsea players to play the entirety of the pre-season friendly against AC Milan at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Central Jakarta, Indonesia, on Saturday.
From start to finish, Lavia played a key role for Chelsea in the middle of the park as they stormed past Ruben Amorim's side. Joao Pedro broke the deadlock shortly before the break, heading the ball past Lorenzo Torriani from close range
No more than a minute or so after the restart, the Blues striker doubled his tally, beating the AC Milan goalkeeper, again, from inside the six-yard box. Moises Caicedo put the third and final nail in the coffin, a few moments later, scoring a volley with the outside of his foot from outside the box.
Although Lavia didn't get on the scoresheet, he made an excellent impression, pulling the strings in the heart of midfield and breaking up play. Along with Robert Sanchez, Josh Acheampong, and Marco Palestra, the Belgian played 90 minutes.
It was the first time since August 4, 2024, when Chelsea lost to Manchester City in a pre-season friendly, that Lavia had played a full game. Speaking to club media following the Blues' victory against AC Milan, Alonso gave him his flowers.
"I'm very happy for him because he has a break, a block (while pointing to his head)," said the Spaniard. "He was tired, but I said, 'Let him play, let him enjoy the 90 minutes.' He finished exhausted, so I think he's really happy."
On whether he had planned to give the likes of Lavia, among others, a full game, Alonso said: "Yes, that was the idea, to arrive to this last weekend having today this game and tomorrow the other one that some players could make 90. Till now, we want to have a logical progression in the loads, and we have the plan, and we have to stick to that."
Xabi Alonso during Chelsea's clash against AC Milan
Xabi Alonso during Chelsea's clash against AC Milan
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On the patterns of play, assisted by the work of Lavia, Alonso added: "I think that today all the lines worked pretty well; they were quite connected. All the connections that we wanted, we have seen great actions, great combinations.
"This is positive, but we need to keep developing, and it's going to be exciting to follow this process."
Speaking more generally on the performance, Alonso said: "It has been a good game, really complete performance from all the players. For sure, we wanted to have one of them to have a good feeling.
Moises Caicedo and Cole Palmer of Chelsea FC pose with the trophy after winning the Indonesia Super Cup 2026 during the pre-season friendly match between Chelsea FC and AC Milan at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on August 08, 2026 in Jakarta, Indonesia
Moises Caicedo and Cole Palmer following Chelsea's win over AC Milan(Image: Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
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"We know we are adapting in too many circumstances here in the tour with players coming, but yes, today I think it's been a very complete performance in a great stadium, good pitch, and that helped a lot."
On the shape of the starting lineup, having deployed a back-three with wing-backs, Alonso said: "It doesn't matter [about] the system. The most important thing is the flow of the team, the energy, and the principles that we want.
"We want to be versatile in our approach, so I think that today worked really well. We will keep developing ideas, and for sure, now it will be good."
On Sunday, Chelsea will play Johor Darul Ta'zim at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Johor, Malaysia. On the size of the squad, Alonso said: "The idea was that many young players were coming to have chances to play tomorrow.
"To play two games in two days, it's quite intense, and we need that for tomorrow."
On the progress he's seen over the two weeks across Australia and Asia, Alonso concluded: "We have improved and learned a lot in these two weeks. "Not just in the football side, as well as in the personal side, to get to know the players, to know that spending time together abroad.
"So it's been good, and tomorrow is the last game, and then we'll fly back to London."
On Saturday, August 15, Chelsea will drop the curtain on pre-season with a friendly against Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge. It will be the first time Alonso leads the Blues out in front of a home crowd on home soil.
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