Chelsea Claims Indonesian Super Cup Under Xabi Alonso

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso achieved his first trophy with the club on Saturday, defeating AC Milan 3-0 to win the Indonesian Super Cup in Jakarta. This victory marked a significant turnaround following pre-season losses to Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus.

Joao Pedro was instrumental, scoring two goals, while Moises Caicedo contributed the third. The match allowed Alonso to experiment with a back-three formation, enhancing Chelsea's defensive security and attacking width.

The defensive trio of Josh Acheampong, Wesley Fofana, and Jorrel Hato effectively neutralized Milan's threats, particularly keeping Rafael Leao quiet. Chelsea's improved organization led to their first clean sheet of the pre-season.

Pedro's performance underscored his importance to the team, bringing his total to five goals in pre-season friendlies. The team's set-piece strategies, influenced by newly appointed set-piece coach Austin MacPhee, were also notable, with Caicedo's delivery playing a key role in the goals.