Chelsea's Preseason Woes Deepen: Four Crucial Lessons From Juventus Defeat

Chelsea's visit to Hong Kong ended in a 1–0 loss to Juventus on Wednesday, as a preseason fixture with limited chances was settled by a spectacular Edon Zhegrova strike.

Xabi Alonso wasn't overly disheartened by his team's loss to Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend, with a standout Antonín Kinsky display denying the Blues a positive outcome. However, Chelsea have now suffered consecutive defeats, and the nature of this performance may trigger some concern.

There was tactical clarity from the manager, but Alonso's squad was hampered by a resolute Italian side and an uneven playing surface. The match lacked quality and became frustratingly fragmented in the second half due to the volume of substitutions.

It was a Bianconeri substitute who made the decisive difference, with Zhegrova's first-time effort from range catching Mike Penders off guard after 68 minutes. The game's only goal was one of just six shots on target that both teams combined for at Kai Tak Sports Park.

Alonso's Attacking Combinations

Alonso hinted in his prematch press conference that veteran signing Danny Welbeck was ready to feature for his new side, and the Englishman was named in Chelsea's starting eleven on Wednesday.

With Cole Palmer absent, Welbeck linked up closely with João Pedro, a familiar face from their shared time at Watford and Brighton & Hove Albion. However, the pair rarely combined in Hong Kong after a tidy early exchange from a Robert Sánchez long kick to evade Juventus' press.

The more eye-catching combination emerged down the right flank. Alonso's possession shape was a 3-2-4-1, and there was considerable freedom for new arrivals Marco Palestra and Geovany Quenda to interchange. The latter impressed on debut — technically sharp and a capable crosser with his left foot. Quenda linked up well with Palestra, who is comfortable cutting inside but looks most threatening when running at pace.

The Italian is an outstanding athlete who exploits space effectively. He can be caught in one-on-one situations, but we got a glimpse of why Chelsea recruited the fullback this summer.

While the right side showed promise, Jamie Gittens received minimal support down the opposite wing. Jorrel Hato is less inclined to push forward, leaving Gittens with considerably more ground to cover to beat his markers and create chances.

In the first half especially, Chelsea's left side was largely inactive in possession.

Teenager Stands Tall

The new Chelsea manager has spoken glowingly about the latest generation of Cobham graduates, and one of their standout prospects is Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli.

The midfielder became the youngest starter and goalscorer in the UEFA Youth League last season, spending the majority of his time with the U18s. His ability is extraordinary, and Alonso has been genuinely impressed.

At the outset of Chelsea's tour, the Chelsea boss said Nicoll-Jazuli possesses "special qualities that you don't see that often from a 16-year-old." The teenager came on at halftime in the defeat to Spurs at the weekend and was handed a starting berth here.

There are areas for Nicoll-Jazuli to refine. Crucially, though, he doesn't appear overwhelmed. Physically, he can hold his own, and his work in counter-pressing situations was particularly notable against Juve.

Playing alongside captain Moisés Caicedo certainly provided a boost, yet Nicoll-Jazuli carries his own sense of confidence that benefited the Ecuadorian as well. Together, they combined effectively to neutralize the Bianconeri, and the teenager rarely shied away during the build-up phase under pressure.

Despite his remarkable age, what's preventing Nicoll-Jazuli from overtaking Roméo Lavia and Dário Essugo in the midfield pecking order? The youngster looks like the genuine article.

Limited Threat a Concern

After netting six times against the Western Sydney Wanderers to open their tour Down Under, Chelsea have found the net just once in two matches against more demanding opposition.

Juventus' approach in Hong Kong may have caught Alonso off guard, with Luciano Spalletti deploying a 4-2-3-1 that allowed Andrea Cambiaso to function as an inverted winger on the right. Juve pressed aggressively from goal kicks but were comfortable dropping into a mid/deep block once Chelsea bypassed their initial press.

This served as a useful test for the Blues, who struggled to break down deep-lying defenses last season, particularly without Cole Palmer.

While too much shouldn't be read into this display given the new faces and wave of second-half changes, the Blues offered virtually no attacking threat. Although Alonso's tactical intentions were clear, there was an imbalance across the flanks, and a dry pitch hindered central progression.

This was a difficult outing for Alonso's side, who labored without much reward. In Palmer's absence, they lacked a player capable of producing moments of creativity. João Pedro and Estêvão both struggled to make an impact.

Nevertheless, the arrival of Morgan Rogers and Estévão's return from a hamstring injury means that at full strength, Alonso should have a front four capable of unlocking any Premier League backline.

Mykhailo Mudryk is Back!

Following the overturning of his four-year doping ban, Ukrainian winger Mykhailo Mudryk was available for selection for the first time since November 2024.

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Alonso said he was "very happy" to have the pacey winger available, but urged caution regarding his potential contributions during preseason. "It's too early to tell how he is in terms of fitness, in terms of the game time you need to be involved again," the Chelsea boss said ahead of this fixture.

The Blues have two more matches on tour before heading back to west London for a Stamford Bridge friendly against Real Sociedad, yet Alonso chose to give Mudryk his first minutes of the summer here. He played the final 10 minutes with the Blues trailing by a goal, stepping onto the pitch to a thunderous reception from the Hong Kong crowd.

His first appearance in 20 months yielded little, but the 25-year-old must be absolutely delighted to be back in Chelsea blue. There is raw talent for Alonso to develop, yet the early stages of his Blues career underlined the winger's need for guidance from a skilled coach.