Jakarta defeat prompts squad decisions for AC Milan
AC Milan’s pre-season challenge in Jakarta
AC Milan faced a significant test during their pre-season tour, culminating in a 3-0 defeat against Chelsea in Jakarta. The match, which saw Chelsea secure the 2026 Indonesia Super Cup, marked the end of Milan’s previously unbeaten run during their summer preparations. The encounter at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium provided a stark reminder of the work ahead for Milan under coach Ruben Amorim.
The game saw Joao Pedro score twice for Chelsea, with Moises Caicedo adding a third goal with an outside-of-the-boot volley. Chelsea’s victory came in their fourth pre-season match, with coach Xabi Alonso’s side largely controlling the contest. Joao Pedro opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time, heading in a corner from Caicedo past Milan goalkeeper Lorenzo Torriani. He then doubled Chelsea’s lead shortly after the restart, assisted by Pedro Neto.
Caicedo extended Chelsea’s advantage in the 50th minute, converting another corner, this time played by Romeo Lavia. Milan made several changes at half-time, while Alonso maintained his starting lineup, allowing Chelsea to continue creating opportunities. Players like Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson also had chances, with Jackson hitting the post after a strong run.
Amorim’s post-match reflections and squad decisions
Following the defeat, Ruben Amorim indicated that the club’s hierarchy would be making decisions regarding the squad. He stated, “We will make decisions on our players. These two weeks of training have been very positive, but we have a large squad, so we must pick some players and we’ll make some choices next week.” This statement highlights the upcoming squad reduction as Milan prepares to return from their Indonesian tour.
Despite the one-sided scoreline, Amorim viewed the match as a crucial part of the team’s development. He explained that he opted for a tactical approach that challenged his players, employing a high-pressing system that left them vulnerable against Chelsea’s attacking quality. Amorim emphasized that while they wouldn’t typically press in such a manner against teams like Chelsea during the regular season, the pre-season match served to prepare the team and build confidence for their first official game.
The squad in Jakarta also included many young players, indicating a process to integrate them into the team. Amorim’s comments suggest a focus on ensuring these young talents are ready for the competitive campaign. The match also saw the debut of new signing Diawara, a defender born in 2006, who came on in the second half.
Squad imbalances and transfer market challenges
The team selection in Jakarta offered insights into Amorim’s squad considerations. While experienced players like Luka Modric and Rafael Leao made their first starts of the summer, other key figures such as Youssouf Fofana and Fikayo Tomori remained unused substitutes for the entire match. This tactical choice, combined with Amorim’s remarks, suggests that the coaching staff is still working to find the right balance between established stars and the new tactical identity being implemented this summer.
The club faces a bottleneck in the transfer market, as new signings are proving difficult without first offloading current squad members. The need to manage the wage bill and adhere to squad registration limits means that player departures are now a priority for the technical directors. The defeat to Chelsea underscores the ongoing work needed, especially after more positive results earlier in the summer. Amorim intends to use the data collected from the Indonesia trip to inform his final squad selection.
With the Torino clash approaching, players are under pressure to demonstrate their place in Amorim’s long-term plans. The “choices” mentioned by the coach are expected to involve identifying players for transfer and determining which young talents will be sent out on loan to gain experience. Milan has completed its fixtures on the 2026 Pre-Season Tour in Australia and Indonesia, but they have one more game before the start of the league season, against Manchester United, scheduled for Saturday, August 15, in Wrocław, Poland.
Source: goal.com
Emeka Nwosu 