Chelsea have been plunged into one of the most bizarre logistical exercises of the modern pre-season, playing two friendlies in two separate countries in the space of just one day. Xabi Alonso’s side played AC Milan on Saturday afternoon (UK time) at Jakarta’s Gelora Bung Karno Stadium. Now, they are set to take on Malaysia Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim, at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, just a day later.
This truncated schedule was, of course, emphatically not the original template approved by either club. Firstly, the Blues were given a three-day recovery period between the two friendlies, with the Malaysian engagement pencilled in for Tuesday, August 11. But subsequent deliberations prompted a reciprocal decision to move the encounter to Sunday.
A statement on Chelsea’s official website explained that the amendment was introduced to “…assist with scheduling and preparations ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.”
The reduced turnaround follows an authoritative display in the Indonesian capital where Chelsea beat AC Milan 3-0 to win the 2026 Indonesia Super Cup. Joao Pedro scored two, one just before half-time and one just after, while Moises Caicedo completed the rout.
Chelsea make heavy rotation against Johor Darul Ta’zim’s stunning unbeaten run
The Southern Tigers come to this glamour occasion with an almost incomprehensible statistical weight of expectation. Johor Darul Ta’zim are currently on a world record of 108 domestic league games without defeat, making them the most dominant institution in South East Asian football.
For their fans, then, this fixture will be seen as a real test of where they are against Europe’s aristocracy. Xisco Muñoz’s charges are similarly steeped in their own pre-season program and look commendably well-conditioned.
They have already played six friendlies and remain unbeaten in five, a run that includes a goalless draw against La Liga side Elche, although the quality of their former opponents has been markedly inferior to the visitors. More than a week ago they were 2-0 winners against Spanish outfit Cartagena in their last outing.
Meanwhile, Alonso is expected to make big changes to keep his key men on the pitch. The Spaniard approached the Milan assignment as though it were a competitive fixture and made only marginal changes around the hour mark, meaning those who completed 90 minutes will almost certainly be given a respite.
Chelsea’s tour of Australia and Asia has been a frantic final act, with five matches in three countries over the past fortnight. The Blues are back at Cobham for intensive training as they build up to Alonso’s Premier League curtain-raiser at Fulham on August 24.