Chelsea click under Alonso in Jakarta
Your team dismantled AC Milan 3–0 in Jakarta on Saturday, and it was the best Chelsea have looked all pre-season (6). João Pedro scored twice, Moisés Caicedo added a stunning third, and the 3-4-2-1 shape gave Xabi Alonso exactly the blueprint he needed (3) (6). Spanish outlet Marca ran with the headline "Chelsea hace 'click' con Xabi", Chelsea click with Xabi, and that about sums it up (5).
Caicedo and João Pedro ran the show
Caicedo scored one and set up another, bossing midfield in a performance that earned rave reviews (2) (3). João Pedro's double came either side of half-time, the first in first-half stoppage time, the second right after the break (3) (6). Jorrel Hato played eighty minutes in the back line (4). This was your team's second win on the Far East tour, and the gap in quality from the Juventus loss a week ago is night and day.
Lavia completes first 90 minutes
The result mattered, but one image hit fans harder: Roméo Lavia walking off after 90 full minutes. Wesley Fofana posted on Instagram, "First 90 min 🥹❤️", and the subreddit nearly broke. Lavia completing a match is a milestone Chelsea supporters have been waiting for.
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Johor Darul Ta'zim up next in Malaysia
Another Chelsea XI will be in action shortly, the tour continues against Johor Darul Ta'zim in Malaysia, with a rotated lineup expected after the Jakarta win (8). Alonso has bodies to manage and a formation to fine-tune.
Shay Given: Chelsea should sign Pickford
Shay Given thinks your club should move for Jordan Pickford. The former goalkeeper said he is surprised Chelsea have not "jumped at the chance to sign" the Everton and England stopper, who has 91 caps (7).
Fan reactions
The mood on the Chelsea subreddit was pure relief. Lavia completing 90 minutes dominated the conversation, Fofana's Instagram post got its own thread, and another post screamed "DO NOT ADJUST YOUR SETS" at the sheer novelty of it. The goals got their usual clips as they went in, Caicedo's stunner at 50 minutes had the match thread buzzing, but the night belonged to Lavia's milestone. See the full thread here.
