Chelsea’s Pre-Season Finale in Malaysia
Chelsea are set to conclude their pre-season tour with a match against Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Malaysia. The fixture, scheduled for Sunday, will see the Blues debut their new 2026/27 Nike home shirt. This match follows Chelsea‘s 3-0 victory over AC Milan on Saturday.
The new kit features a distinctive Chelsea design, with the club crest refreshed and integrated into the fabric on the front of the shirt in ‘Bright Blue’. The jersey also includes a collar and a button-down neck, alongside ‘Midwest Gold’ accents for the rampant lion badge and Nike swoosh, which appear on both the shirt and shorts.
Squad Rotation Expected for Johor Darul Ta’zim Match
Manager Xabi Alonso is anticipated to make numerous changes to the squad for the final pre-season game. This decision comes as Chelsea will be playing just 24 hours after their previous match against AC Milan. Alonso indicated that the plan for squad rotation was already established, aimed at managing player workloads and providing opportunities for fringe and academy players.
During a post-match press conference following the Indonesia Super Cup victory, Alonso expressed his satisfaction with his side’s adaptability and mutual support, describing it as ‘the picture become a movie’. The pre-season tour has yielded mixed results for the Blues, with two wins and two defeats, but performances have shown consistent improvement.
The anticipated line-up for the match against Johor Darul Ta’zim is expected to include Mike Penders in goal, replacing Robert Sanchez, who played the full 90 minutes against AC Milan. Players such as Dario Essugo, Liam Delap, Dastan Satpayev, and Jamie Gittens, who did not feature in the previous game, are likely to receive significant playing time against the Malaysian side. Geovany Quenda and Nicolas Jackson, who played extended minutes as substitutes in the last match, will also be looking for opportunities to start or feature.
Many of Chelsea‘s younger players have made a positive impression on Alonso throughout the tour and will be eager for this final chance to demonstrate their potential before the team returns to England. The match is scheduled to kick off at 1pm UK time on Sunday.
Johor Darul Ta’zim’s Transformation and European Influence
Johor Darul Ta’zim, often referred to as JDT, has undergone a significant transformation since 2013 under the ownership of His Royal Highness Tunku Ismail ibni Sultan Ibrahim, the Crown Prince of Johor. The Crown Prince acquired the club after fans requested his intervention to revitalize football in the state. Over the past 13 years, he has overseen a remarkable evolution, establishing JDT as a dominant force in Malaysian football.
JDT is currently defending their Malaysian Super League crown for the 13th consecutive season and is pursuing a historical milestone. Their unbeaten league run, which commenced in April 2021, could potentially extend to 109 games, surpassing the world record set by Ivorian side Asec Mimosas in the early 1990s. The Crown Prince stated that the world record is a byproduct of their focus on building a strong foundation, including their academy, training facilities, medical science, and a culture of winning.
The club’s chief operating officer, Alistair Edwards, a former player who helped JDT win the Malaysia League and Cup double in 1991, noted the stark contrast in facilities from his playing days. He mentioned that in 2013, when the Crown Prince took over, the facilities were similar to when he played at 20 years old, and the club effectively started from scratch. Today, JDT boasts advanced training facilities, including an anti-gravity treadmill and oxygen therapy pods. A new training centre, planned to open next year, will feature seven pitches and an indoor pitch building designed in the shape of the club’s tiger badge. The 40,000-seater Sultan Ibrahim Stadium opened in 2020.
The Crown Prince has modeled JDT on European football, incorporating a Spanish influence. Luis Garcia, a former Champions League winner with Liverpool, serves as the chief executive, while former Watford manager Xisco Muñoz is the head coach. Javier Ribera, the academy director, joined nine years ago from Valencia, aiming to implement the methodology and philosophy of the Valencia Academy. Garcia, who completed his coaching badges and an MBA, decided against coaching after discussions with former teammates in management, including Xabi Alonso, and instead focused on the business aspects of the game. He joined JDT 18 months ago after meeting the Crown Prince, expressing his surprise at the ambition and vision for the club.
Xisco, who joined last summer, was also drawn to the project, noting that the facilities are comparable to those he experienced in the Premier League. The Crown Prince is described as a figure deeply involved in the club’s operations, constantly seeking improvements regardless of match outcomes. His long-term vision for JDT includes establishing the club as a significant force in the Asian Champions League and building a legacy that allows a club from Johor to compete with major names in global football, emphasizing that the focus extends beyond trophies to building careers, infrastructure, and regional pride.
Source: chelseafc.com