Chelsea's pre-season tour of Australia and Asia rolls on this week with a friendly against Juventus in Hong Kong, offering manager Xabi Alonso another chance to fine-tune his squad ahead of the Premier League season.
The fixture comes on the back of Chelsea's first defeat under Alonso, a late loss to Tottenham Hotspur that was settled almost at the final whistle. Speaking to reporters ahead of the clash with Juventus, Alonso acknowledged his team still has work to do before the campaign begins in earnest.
"We are at the stage of pre-season, so not where we want to be, for sure," Alonso said in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, with roughly three weeks remaining before the new top-flight season kicks off.
With the squad now past the midpoint of its pre-season schedule, Alonso is focused on integrating players who returned late after extended breaks following last year's World Cup. Moises Caicedo and Nicolas Jackson both rejoined the group over the weekend but sat out the defeat to Spurs. Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez also missed that match through injury, though Alonso has now confirmed his availability for the Juventus fixture, where he will compete with Mike Penders — himself back from a post-World Cup holiday — for the starting spot between the posts.
One of the more notable inclusions in the squad is winger Mykhailo Mudryk, who returns after serving a doping suspension. The 25-year-old has not featured for Chelsea since November 2024, and while he is available for selection against Juventus, Alonso was cautious about how much game time he can realistically handle.
"He came directly from the airport to the hotel. Yesterday was more about the feelings and emotions, than to assess fitness level. But yes, he could play. 90 minutes too early. He can be selected, he can play," Alonso explained when asked about Mudryk's readiness.
The match could also mark a debut for new arrival Danny Welbeck, who joined from Brighton for an undisclosed fee during the transfer window. Winger Geovany Quenda, signed from Sporting this summer, is another player in contention after recovering from a knock that kept him at Cobham while the rest of the squad traveled to Australia. The 19-year-old has since linked up with his new teammates and could feature against the Italian side.
Not everything is positive on the injury front, however. Cole Palmer was seen doing individual work away from the group during Chelsea's open training session on Tuesday, raising questions over his fitness, while defender Levi Colwill did not take part in training at all. Both remain doubts for the fixture.
Alonso is also still missing several players who progressed deep into the World Cup, including British record signing Morgan Rogers and new addition Jordan Henderson, neither of whom have yet rejoined the touring party.
Based on the team news available, Chelsea's likely starting lineup includes Penders in goal, with Palestra, Fofana, Tosin and Hato across the back line. Lavia and Caicedo are expected to anchor the midfield, supported by Quenda and Walsh, while Gittens and Joao Pedro look set to lead the attacking line.
The friendly kicks off at 12:30pm BST on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at the Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong, with coverage available via CFC+.
Based on reporting from Standard Football.