Hong Kong: Mudryk returns for Chelsea in Juventus pre-season fixture
Chelsea continued their summer tour with a pre-season fixture against Juventus at Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong. The match marked the third game of their trip and their first in Asia. The Blues’ lineup featured maiden starts for summer arrivals Geovany Quenda and Danny Welbeck.
Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez returned to action for Chelsea after missing the previous match against Tottenham Hotspur. He was supported by a defensive line comprising Marco Palestra, Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo, and Jorrel Hato. Moises Caicedo, making his first pre-season appearance, captained the team and partnered with Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli in midfield.
The attacking flanks saw Jamie Gittens, who has impressed during pre-season, and Quenda. Upfront, Joao Pedro and Welbeck led the attack. Among the substitutes for the first time on this tour were Mike Penders, Gabriel Slonina, Pedro Neto, Mykhailo Mudryk, and Nicolas Jackson, indicating Mudryk’s return to the squad.
Juventus prepare for a challenging encounter
Ahead of the match, Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti and player Manuel Locatelli addressed the press. Locatelli described the upcoming game as a “serious test” and highlighted the team’s unity and the positive impact of new players. He also spoke about the “enormous privilege” of wearing the captain’s armband for Juventus, having joined the club at a young age.
Locatelli reflected on the previous season, stating that the team’s failure to achieve their goals left a “bitter taste.” He emphasised the need for this awareness to drive motivation in every training session, stressing that “every competition becomes an objective” when representing Juventus. While acknowledging disappointment about missing the Champions League, he noted the importance of the Europa League and the need to focus on one game at a time with serenity.
Coach Spalletti focused on the collective attitude and team spirit, stating that football is more than just tactics. He expressed his aim to build on the positive aspects shown last season, which included playing “good, modern and productive football.” Spalletti outlined the new project’s ambition to continuously improve and eliminate inconsistencies that cost them results, aiming to take “another step forward.”
Spalletti anticipated a tough challenge against Chelsea, describing them as a “top team” led by a talented coach with an impressive playing career. He noted Chelsea’s quality and squad depth demonstrated in recent matches, viewing the fixture as a crucial test for Juventus. He stressed the importance of starting strong and measuring up to Europe’s best sides, given the proximity of the new season.
Chelsea’s full squad for the fixture
The full Chelsea squad for the match included a strong starting eleven and a comprehensive list of substitutes. The starting lineup featured Sanchez in goal; Palestra, Fofana, Tosin, and Hato in defence; Caicedo and Nicoll-Jazuli in midfield; and Quenda, Joao Pedro, Gittens, and Welbeck in attack.
The substitutes available for the game were Penders, Sharman-Lowe, Curd, Slonina, Acheampong, Subuloye, Sarr, Diakite, Anselmino, Lavia, Essugo, Watson, Walsh, Kellyman, Mudryk, Estevao Willian, Kavuma-McQueen, Neto, Satpayev, Jackson, and Delap. This extensive list provided the coaching staff with numerous options for the pre-season encounter against Juventus.
The match against the Serie A giants was available for live viewing on CFC+.
Source: chelseafc.com
Isla Hartley is a Sports Reporter at NewsUK. She covered the British summer of sport from Wimbledon to the Test grounds. She focuses on tennis, cricket and athletics and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. She holds a degree in Sports Studies from the University of Stirling and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Glasgow, she runs half-marathons and follows Scottish athletics. “The overlooked athlete usually has the better story.”
