Chelsea Projected to Rotate Squad for Match Against Johor Darul Ta’zim

The Blues travel to Johor, Malaysia, for an international exhibition meeting against the Malaysian Super League champions. The fixture at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium follows a busy summer schedule that took the Premier League club across Australia and Asia, including stops in Sydney, Hong Kong, and Jakarta.

While Chelsea’s high-profile summer signings and returning first-team stars generated headlines during earlier tour stops, the quick succession of fixtures forces a major reshuffle for the weekend encounter. According to tour reports, players who logged heavy minutes in the 3-0 victory over AC Milan are unlikely to feature prominently against the Malaysian hosts.

Sultan Ibrahim Stadium Squad Rotation and Predicted Lineups

Manager Xabi Alonso faces the tactical challenge of managing player fitness after Chelsea played a second pre-season friendly in as many days. Core contributors who featured heavily against Italian opposition in Indonesia are expected to step aside, opening the door for younger academy prospects, summer arrivals, and fringe squad members to gain valuable minutes.

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Goalkeeper Mike Penders is projected to start in goal behind a defensive line likely featuring Tosin Adarabioyo and Mamadou Sarr. In the midfield, Dário Essugo and Reggie Walsh are positioned to anchor the center of the pitch, while attacking minutes are expected for Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap, and Dastan Satpaev.

On the opposing side, Johor Darul Ta’zim enters the fixture under the direction of manager Xisco Munoz. The Malaysian powerhouse enjoyed a dominant domestic campaign, scoring an incredible 117 goals across 24 league matches while conceding just 10 times during the 2025-26 season. Xisco’s squad is expected to feature key contributors such as Bergson, Jairo da Silva, Hector Hevel, Syihan Hazmi, and Arif Aiman Hanapi.

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The fixture carries deeper significance for the hosts as they measure their progress against elite European opposition.

Pre-Season Trajectory Under Xabi Alonso

For Chelsea, the tour represents a foundational period under newly appointed manager Xabi Alonso. The pre-season campaign began with behind-closed-doors fixtures at Cobham, including a 3-0 win over Bromley where Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens, and summer signing Emmanuel Emegha found the net. The squad then jetted off to Australia, kicking off public tour matches with a high-scoring thriller against Western Sydney Wanderers before narrow defeats against Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus.

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The team bounced back in style during their stop in Jakarta, dispatching AC Milan behind a brace from Joao Pedro and a long-range strike from Moises Caicedo. That performance provided a welcome defensive boost as Serie A opponents failed to record a single shot on target.

Following Sunday’s contest in Malaysia, Chelsea will pack their bags for the return flight to England. The Blues are scheduled to complete their pre-season preparations with a final friendly match against Real Sociedad next weekend, just weeks before their Premier League opening fixture against Fulham.