Chelsea look to reset in Jakarta as Alonso faces Amorim’s Milan

Chelsea’s pre-season tour of Asia reaches its next destination this weekend, with the squad arriving in Jakarta for a high-profile friendly against AC Milan at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.

The fixture arrives at a critical juncture for head coach Xabi Alonso. Following consecutive defeats to Tottenham and Juventus, the focus has shifted from mere fitness building to establishing a more cohesive tactical identity. While the loss to the Old Lady in Hong Kong offered glimpses of progress, Alonso will be demanding a more clinical edge from his side against Italian opposition.

Tactical familiarity in the opposition dugout

The match adds a layer of intrigue with the presence of Ruben Amorim in the AC Milan dugout. The former Manchester United manager, now steering the Rossoneri, will provide a stern test for Alonso’s evolving system. Milan have shown resilience this summer, having held both Celtic and Inter Milan to draws, and will likely prove a difficult side to break down.

There has not been too much for Chelsea fans to get excited about so far this summer, and there will be some pushing for Xabi Alonso to show them something more.

Team news and rotation

Alonso will be monitoring the fitness of key personnel closely. Both Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill were sidelined for the Juventus clash with minor knocks and will be assessed before the squad is finalized for Saturday. Conversely, there is optimism surrounding Mykhailo Mudryk, who made his return to action in Hong Kong following the lifting of his doping ban. The winger is expected to see an increase in minutes as he works toward full match sharpness.

Danny Welbeck, who started the previous fixture and showed early promise in the final third, is expected to retain his place as Alonso continues to evaluate his attacking options.

Match details

• Kick-off: Saturday, August 8, 2026, at 1pm BST.
• Venue: Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Stadium, Jakarta.
• Broadcast: Live coverage is available exclusively via CFC+, Chelsea’s in-house streaming platform.