Chelsea ended their pre-season trip with a 3-3 draw against Johor Darul Ta’zim in Malaysia, recovering from a late deficit only through an Antonio Glauder own goal. Liam Delap converted two penalties, but the match also brought injury concerns for Aaron Anselmino and Mamadou Sarr, plus a series of disciplinary incidents that will concern Xabi Alonso.
Johor led through Arif Aiman before Delap’s first spot-kick brought Chelsea level at the interval. The forward put the visitors ahead with another penalty after the break, only for Óscar Arribas to equalise shortly afterwards. Bérgson then appeared to have won it for the Malaysian champions late on, before Chelsea’s pressure produced the decisive own goal for a share of the result.
A draw that revealed more than the scoreline
The immediate temptation is to treat a pre-season draw, played after extensive travel and substantial rotation, as inconsequential. Chelsea had used a much-changed side after facing Milan the previous day, while reports described a demanding itinerary across several countries. Those circumstances matter when judging both the performance and the defensive lapses.
Yet the game still exposed issues Alonso has little time to resolve. Chelsea conceded three times, twice after having fought their way into a lead, and their equaliser came from an opponent’s mistake rather than a controlled late response. Delap’s two goals offer a positive individual note, but both arrived from the penalty spot. They do not, by themselves, settle the broader question of how fluidly Chelsea created chances from open play.
The contest was also unusually combative for an exhibition. One account reported five Chelsea yellow cards, with Delap, Nicolas Jackson, Estêvão, Geovany Quenda and teenager Reggie Watson all cautioned. The specific moments differed — dissent, retaliation and an overzealous tackle were among those cited — but the common picture is of a young side allowing the edge of the occasion to affect its decision-making.
That matters because Alonso’s first task is not simply to identify his best XI. It is to establish calmer habits in a group that will contain players competing fiercely for limited roles. A heated friendly in Johor is not equivalent to a league match, but it provides an early test of the control expected from a team under pressure.
Defensive concerns grow with two setbacks
The more immediate complication is at centre-back. Sarr reportedly withdrew before kick-off after initially being selected, while Anselmino was forced off after 29 minutes. Reports said the Argentine appeared to have a hamstring issue and left the field visibly distressed.
Neither report established the severity of either problem, so it would be premature to assume either player faces a lengthy absence. But timing is important. Anselmino was using pre-season to make his case to a new manager, and an interruption now reduces the opportunities available to him. Sarr, meanwhile, was not able to take the opportunity at all.
Chelsea have experienced senior defenders available, and reporting has placed Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Josh Acheampong, Tosin Adarabioyo and Maxence Lacroix ahead in the central-defensive conversation. However, the wider picture remains unsettled, with other defenders linked with departures before the window closes. Alonso therefore needs clarity not just on fitness, but on which players will remain once the squad is trimmed.
The draw did not answer whether the goals conceded were mainly the product of makeshift selection, fatigue and travel, or evidence of a structural weakness when Chelsea lose the ball. Arribas’s equaliser was reported as a heavily deflected free-kick, which offers some mitigation. Johor’s other goals, however, came through quick attacking moments and a late finish, exactly the sort of phases that demand organisation from a reshaped defence.
Selection pressure remains high
At the other end, Chelsea’s attacking depth is both an advantage and a source of difficulty. Delap, Jackson and Estêvão started in Malaysia, while other forwards are also competing for minutes. The question for Alonso is less whether he has options than whether he can define clear responsibilities quickly enough for those options to complement one another.
Delap’s penalties were taken with assurance and will help his standing after a quiet first season at the club. Jackson’s involvement, meanwhile, underlined that the forward line is not yet fixed. Estêvão showed his attacking threat but was also fortunate to escape with only a booking after an incident in the second half, according to reports.
Chelsea have one final friendly, against Real Sociedad, before Fulham visit for the league opener on 24 August. Players returning later from international commitments will further compress Alonso’s preparation. The Malaysia result was not a verdict on his project, but it was a reminder that squad balance, fitness and discipline are pressing concerns rather than problems that can wait for the season to settle.