Chelsea suffered their second consecutive pre-season defeat after losing 1-0 to Juventus at Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong. Edon Zhegrova scored the only goal of the game in the 68th minute. The result leaves manager Xabi Alonso with plenty to ponder ahead of the Premier League season.
Zhegrova secured the victory with a brilliant first-time strike into the top corner. Chelsea struggled to create chances throughout the match, failing to score despite changing personnel. Danny Welbeck started for Chelsea, while Jeremie Boga started for Juventus.
Mykhailo Mudryk returns from suspension
Mykhailo Mudryk returned to football after serving a 20-month suspension. The winger made his first appearance for Chelsea in 615 days when he came on for a 10-minute cameo.
He received a brilliant reception as he raced onto the pitch. Mudryk looked sharp, displaying the lightning speed he showed on his debut against Liverpool. Liam Delap sent him down the left side, allowing the Ukrainian to deliver a cross, but no teammate could reach the ball. Estevao also had a late free-kick saved.
Geovany Quenda and youth prospects
Geovany Quenda was a bright spark during a dire first half. The winger recently completed his move from Sporting Lisbon, more than a year after his signing was announced. Quenda made darting runs and whipped in crosses before Alonso took him off at the break.
Sixteen-year-old Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli also featured for Chelsea. The England Under-17 international played in midfield next to Moises Caicedo and wanted possession. Seventeen-year-old Datsan Satpayev, who already has one goal this pre-season, nearly scored in the 84th minute. He forced a smart low save to the right with a shot from the edge of the box.
Poor pitch and upcoming fixtures
Reporter Kieran Gill noted that a shoddy surface and bobbling ball did not aid the football Alonso wants to play. Gill questioned whether the money from visiting Asia and Australia is worth competing on poor pitches.
Away from the pitch, Alonso was filmed signing his name on several football shirts. The Spanish manager signed a shirt from his former club Liverpool for a fan.
Chelsea have two games remaining on their pre-season tour. They play AC Milan in Jakarta, Indonesia on Saturday, before facing Johor Darul Ta'zim F.C. in Malaysia on Sunday.
