Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Chelsea’s 3-3 draw with Johor Darul Ta’zim on Sunday had everything, with Xabi Alonso certainly having a role in this exciting affair.
The game had goals, penalties, brawls and a cancelled penalty shoot-out, which left one Chelsea employee far from happy.
After the full-time whistle, Chelsea’s head of first-team operations Kevin Campello was heard saying: “It’s written in the contract.”
All in all, it was a very interesting game as Alonso made some surprising calls.
Dario Essugo being named Chelsea captain
Reece James, Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Levi Colwill were all absent for different reasons.
Even so, it was quite surprising to see Alonso name 21-year-old Dario Essugo captain from the start of the match. The more experienced Tosin Adarabioyo, who has captained Chelsea in the past, was available and also named in the first XI.
Essugo would have enjoyed his moment, but the Portuguese should not expect to see himself with the captain’s armband once the season starts.
Dario Essugo of Chelsea is put under pressure
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Jamie Gittens and Geovany Quenda starting at wing-back
Jamie Gittens starting in the left wing-back position and Geovany Quenda being deployed on the opposite flank also would have been a shock to many.
Quenda has, of course, played as a wing-back at Sporting, but it was a new experience for Gittens, which was clear to see.
Unsurprisingly, Gittens was quite dangerous going forward. However, defensively, he was really exploited. In the first half, all of JDT’s attacks came down the left flank.
In the Premier League, Gittens at left wing-back is not something we should see again. Alonso will have Jorrel Hato, Marco Palestra and Pep Chavarria, who can all play there.
Chavarria is set to join Chelsea from Rayo Vallecano, with the Spaniard being a more natural option for the position. It has been an interesting pre-season tour, which Alonso has contributed to with his team selections and different systems.