Xabi Alonso will hope to return to winning ways when Chelsea face Juventus at the Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong on Wednesday.
Xabi Alonso could field the strongest starting lineup of his tenure when Chelsea lock horns with Juventus. On Wednesday, the Blues will step up preparations for the new season when they face Luciano Spalletti's side at the Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong.
The Chelsea manager will hope to return to winning ways after a last-gasp defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at the Accor Stadium in Sydney, Australia, on Saturday. Although the Blues showed great promise against Roberto De Zerbi's side, Alonso realised that there's still plenty of work to be done.
Reflecting on the not-so-friendly friendly, the 44-year-old said: "Of course, in any game, you think that you can do better; that's part of the process, to learn from things that we can do better, things that we have done well.
"In the stage that we are now, it's normal that we are going through these momentums, but the result is not the most important; it's more the performance, it's 75 minutes for many players, so it was the plan, and we respected it."
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During a particular spell in the game, Chelsea struggled to hold onto possession. The Blues manager, who had been rather animated on the sidelines, said: "Well, there were moments for everything.
"I've said that the first half was really tight, with some moments that we could have kept the ball a little bit more, so especially in those last 10 minutes of the first half, we were not able to hold the ball that much, but we were not conceding, so this is the game, you don't always have the control, and not to lose your shape, not to lose your plan in those moments, it was important.
"And after the second half, the context has changed completely, with 10 men, we have been really close to scoring, but again, you want to win, but this is not important. It will come when we will be a little bit more frustrated for losing points. Not yet."
Over the next couple of days, the Chelsea players will be working hard to impress Alonso as they try to earn a place in the side that faces the Italian giants. So, with that being said, football.london has selected the dream starting lineup to face Juventus on Wednesday.
Penders and Sanchez battle for Chelsea role
Teddy Sharman-Lowe started each of the pre-season friendlies in Australia, with Robert Sanchez nursing a minor injury and Mike Penders still on holiday following the World Cup. With last season's number one yet to feature between the sticks, the Chelsea goalkeeper, who spent last season on loan at Strasbourg, has the chance to stake a claim for a place in the starting lineup.
Penders will return from his break and meet the Blues squad in Hong Kong over the next few days. Although the 21-year-old shot-stopper has the capability to dethrone Sanchez, he only has three games to display his quality.
Fofana under pressure to impress Alonso
With Maxence Lacroix, who Chelsea recently signed from Crystal Palace for £52m, waiting in the wings, Wesley Fofana needs to make a good impression in pre-season. As it stands, Alonso seems to be leaning towards a back-four, meaning there's only one centre-half who can partner Levi Colwill.
Unless the Blues sign a left wing-back and the Spaniard switches to a back-three, Fofana is in danger of losing his place in the starting lineup this term. The 25-year-old defender has done okay so far in pre-season, but he's hardly set the world alight.
Chelsea star continues great form
Jamie Gittens has been superb for Chelsea under Alonso in pre-season. Having spent much of last term under Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior either on the bench or on the treatment table, the 21-year-old winger has been a breath of fresh air.
Morgan Rogers, who's still away on holiday following the World Cup, is expected to eventually become an undisputed starter for the Blues, but Gittens is doing everything in his power to impress Alonso. With Mykhailo Mudryk also now potentially fighting for a place on the left wing, he'll need to continue his excellent vein of form against Juventus.
Alonso project takes shape
When Chelsea lock horns with Juventus on Wednesday, Alonso could field a starting lineup that could very well take centre stage on the opening weekend of the new Premier League season. With Enzo Fernandez, Maxence Lacroix, and Morgan Rogers yet to join the squad, the Blues manager has the chance to take a closer look at those who are perhaps on the fringes of the squad.