Chelsea's pre-season preparations suffered another setback as Xabi Alonso's side fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat against Juventus in Hong Kong. A superb curling strike from Edon Zhegrova midway through the second half proved to be the difference in a closely contested encounter, handing the Italian giants victory after a disciplined defensive display. While pre-season results are rarely the ultimate measure of progress, the Blues have now endured back-to-back defeats following their loss to Tottenham, raising questions over the team's attacking sharpness and overall cohesion ahead of the new campaign.
Chelsea enjoyed spells of possession and created promising moments but struggled to convert them into clear-cut chances, with Juventus remaining organised throughout the contest. Alonso continues to rotate his squad and experiment with different tactical setups as he evaluates his options before the Premier League season begins. Here are our three biggest takeaways from Chelsea's 1-0 defeat against Juventus.
Chelsea Might Need to Sign One More Superstar Centre-back
Chelsea entered the summer determined to strengthen their defence, and the arrival of Maxence Lacroix was certainly a statement signing. However, the Juventus defeat showed that expecting one defender to completely transform this backline could be asking far too much.
Lacroix wasn't involved in this fixture, but Chelsea's defensive unit looked vulnerable on paper even before kickoff. The lack of leadership, consistency and elite-level depth remains a genuine concern.
Levi Colwill is arguably the only other centre-back in the squad who consistently looks capable of becoming one of the Premier League's very best. Unfortunately, he was unavailable due to a fitness issue as he continues his return from a lengthy injury layoff.
That left Chelsea relying on options that still raise question marks.
Tosin Adarabioyo is a dependable professional, but he has yet to prove he belongs among England's elite centre-backs capable of leading a title-challenging defence. Meanwhile, Wesley Fofana's quality has never been in doubt, but his injury record has become impossible to ignore after several disrupted seasons.
If Chelsea genuinely want to compete for the Premier League title and the Champions League, relying on Lacroix to solve every defensive issue feels like an unnecessary gamble.
Adding another world-class central defender would not only provide insurance against injuries but also create healthy competition across the backline. Considering Chelsea's ambitions under Xabi Alonso, making one final marquee defensive signing could prove to be one of the smartest moves of the transfer window.
We May Never Get Back the Old Cole Palmer Again
Chelsea fans will undoubtedly be relieved after Xabi Alonso confirmed Cole Palmer's latest absence wasn't caused by anything serious.
However, the bigger picture is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
This is no longer an isolated incident. Palmer seems to be picking up minor knocks with worrying regularity, preventing him from building the rhythm that made him one of the world's most devastating attacking players.
During Mauricio Pochettino's reign, Palmer established himself as one of football's brightest stars, carrying Chelsea through difficult periods almost single-handedly. He later remained instrumental under Enzo Maresca, helping guide the club to an unforgettable FIFA Club World Cup triumph over Paris Saint-Germain.
That version of Palmer looked capable of deciding matches every single week.
The concern now is whether Chelsea will ever consistently see that player again.
Modern football's relentless schedule has placed enormous physical demands on elite players. Palmer has played huge numbers of matches over the past few seasons across domestic competitions, European football and international duty.
Those accumulated minutes may finally be catching up with him.
Even if each injury is labelled "minor", recurring fitness issues often prevent players from reaching their absolute peak. Chelsea don't necessarily need Palmer to simply be available; they need him performing at consistent world-class levels if they're to challenge Europe's biggest clubs.
Hopefully, Alonso's assessment proves accurate and Palmer returns quickly. But if these interruptions continue throughout the campaign, Chelsea may have to accept that the explosive, ever-present version of Palmer seen under Pochettino and Maresca could become increasingly difficult to recapture.
João Pedro and Danny Welbeck Could Become a Regular Partnership
One of the more intriguing tactical observations from the Juventus defeat involved Chelsea's attacking setup.
Many supporters expected Danny Welbeck to operate primarily as an experienced backup striker and mentor for João Pedro, stepping into the starting XI only when the Brazilian required rest.
Instead, Alonso appeared to have something entirely different in mind.
Welbeck led the line as Chelsea's central striker, while João Pedro operated in a deeper attacking midfield role behind him.
The system allowed João Pedro greater freedom to receive possession between the lines while Welbeck occupied Juventus' centre-backs with his movement and hold-up play.
Although Chelsea ultimately failed to score, the tactical experiment suggests Alonso sees Welbeck as more than just a squad player.
It could also become a particularly useful solution if Cole Palmer continues to struggle with recurring fitness issues. João Pedro possesses the technical quality, creativity and intelligence to operate as an attacking midfielder, while Welbeck's experience and work rate offer balance higher up the pitch.
Rather than viewing the veteran forward as merely a rotation option, Chelsea fans may soon see him starting alongside João Pedro on a far more regular basis than initially expected.
Whether this becomes Alonso's preferred system remains to be seen, but the Juventus match offered an early glimpse into a tactical partnership that could play a significant role throughout the Premier League season.
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