Modrić Gets 45 Minutes, but Chelsea Crushes Milan 3-0 in Jakarta
The Croatian veteran started the match and completed the planned 45 minutes, while the Blues delivered their best performance under Xabi Alonso.
The Croatian veteran started the match and completed the planned 45 minutes, while the Blues delivered their best performance under Xabi Alonso.
Chelsea dismantled AC Milan 3-0 in a friendly match on August 8 at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta. It was by far the London side's best performance under coach Xabi Alonso, who finally saw his trademark style in action.
For Croatian fans, the most important news comes from the losing side. Luka Modrić started the match in the Rossoneri's starting lineup and spent the planned 45 minutes on the pitch. After getting only half an hour in the previous match against Inter in Perth, this is a clear sign that the Croatian maestro is building up his fitness ahead of the new season.
Joao Pedro opened the scoring for Milan's net in stoppage time of the first half, precisely in the 45'+2 minute. The player peeled away from goalkeeper Lorenzo Torriani and headed in a Moises Caicedo cross from a corner. It was the first of two Chelsea goals from set pieces, a significant improvement given that last season they scored 10 goals from corners in the entire Premier League, nearly half as many as champions Arsenal.
Just minutes into the second half, in the 46th minute, the same player doubled the lead to 2-0. Pedro met a sharp cross from Pedro Neto at the far post and slammed the ball into the net. Three minutes later, in the 50th minute, Caicedo turned from provider to scorer with a spectacular volley from the edge of the box to make it 3-0.
After losses to Tottenham (1-2) and Juventus (0-1) in previous preseason friendlies, Chelsea finally looked like a team with a clear plan. Alonso fully implemented his trademark 3-4-3 system, with Marco Palestra impressing at left wing-back and the midfield duo of Caicedo and Romeo Lavia dominating. Palestra also set up Danny Welbeck in a promising chance in the first half, while Lavia was tasked with marking Luka Modrić, whom he completely neutralized.
"It hasn't always been like this for Chelsea this preseason, but there's no doubt about the value of their victory today," analyzed Ron Walker from Sky Sports. Nicolas Jackson's introduction from the bench was also striking, as he created several excellent chances and hit the woodwork in half an hour, as did Geovany Quenda.
In contrast to the lively Blues, Milan looked lackluster. Modrić tried to orchestrate play in the first half but was replaced in the second by young Ardon Jashari, whom many see as his long-term successor in midfield. However, Jashari also failed to change the course of the match.
Recall that in the match played in Perth a few days earlier, Modrić played about thirty minutes against Inter and won a penalty with a brilliant pass, from which his team equalized to 1-1. The gradual increase in minutes suggests that Milan's coaching staff is carefully preparing him for the start of the season.
Chelsea continues their Asian tour on August 9 with a visit to Malaysian side Johor Darul Ta'zim, while their final dress rehearsal before the season will be on August 15 at Stamford Bridge against Real Sociedad.
