Chelsea managed to shake off the disappointment of two consecutive pre‑season losses by delivering what many observers are calling their most impressive display under manager Xabi Alonso to date. In Jakarta, the Blues secured a comfortable 3-0 triumph over AC Milan, a result that was largely driven by a stellar performance from forward João Pedro, who found the back of the net twice. The tactical set‑up for the match marked a clear shift away from the hybrid 4-2-3-1 formation that had been experimented with in earlier friendlies. Instead, Alonso opted for a pure 3-4-3 shape, a decision that paid dividends against the Italian giants.
One of the standout performers in this system was Marco Palestra, who excelled on the left wing‑back flank, offering both defensive solidity and an attacking outlet. Additionally, the influence of newly appointed set‑piece specialist Austin McPhee was already evident, hinting at a fresh direction for Chelsea's dead‑ball routines.
Statistically, the Blues have been prolific from corners throughout the 2025/26 Premier League campaign, tallying ten goals from such situations. In this particular encounter, however, they managed to convert just two of the many corners delivered over the 90 minutes, both of which were directly linked to João Pedro's brace. The first came just before halftime when Pedro skillfully slipped away from Milan goalkeeper Lorenzo Torriani and met a low, looping pass from Moises Caicedo, slotting it home without any defender in his way. The goal restored Chelsea's confidence and set the tone for the second half.
The second strike arrived merely a minute after the restart. Pedro again demonstrated his predatory instincts by timing his run to the far post and converting an in‑swinging cross from teammate Pedro Neto.
The goal was a classic example of positional awareness, as the Brazilian winger’s delivery found Pedro unmarked, allowing him to tap the ball into the net. Within three minutes, Caicedo, who had provided the assist for the opening goal, turned the tables on himself by latching onto a volley from a corner taken just outside the penalty area, adding a third and final goal to Chelsea's tally. While the starting eleven did the heavy lifting, the substitutes also made an impact.
Geovany Quenda and Nicolas Jackson both entered the fray with plenty of energy and created several chances, only to be thwarted by the woodwork on a couple of occasions. Their contributions, though not reflected on the scoresheet, demonstrated the depth of the squad and gave the coaching staff valuable insight into the form of these players ahead of the competitive season.
The victory carried more than just three points; it served as a morale booster for a side that had struggled to find consistency in the early stages of the pre‑season tour. The match also offered a practical test of the players' fitness, with most of the first‑team regulars logging over an hour of high‑intensity football in the humid conditions of Indonesia.
Such a test is crucial for a team that aims to compete on multiple fronts once the Premier League campaign begins. Commentator Ron Walker of Sky Sports summed up the performance succinctly, noting that while Chelsea's pre‑season journey has been uneven, the quality displayed in Jakarta cannot be ignored. He highlighted the "virtues" of the win, pointing out that the team showed resilience, tactical adaptability, and a renewed sharpness in set‑piece execution—an area that McPhee has been tasked with revitalising. Looking ahead, Chelsea's schedule remains packed with high‑profile fixtures.
After the 6-4 win over Western Sydney Wanderers on July 28 and a narrow 1-2 loss to Tottenham in Sydney on August 1, the Blues will face Juventus in Hong Kong on August 5 before meeting AC Milan in Jakarta. The next day, they travel to Johor for a clash against Johor Darul Ta'zim, followed by a home showdown with Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge on August 15. Each of these matches will provide further opportunities to fine‑tune the squad, assess the effectiveness of the new set‑piece strategies, and solidify the tactical identity that Alonso envisions for the upcoming season.