Alonso faces disciplinary worries as Chelsea draw in Malaysia

Chelsea wrapped up their pre-season tour with more questions than answers, drawing 3-3 against Johor Darul Ta'zim, the Malaysian champions, in a fractious encounter at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, according to The Guardian.

Liam Delap netted twice from the penalty spot—matching his entire first-season tally at the club—but off-the-pitch conduct stole the show. Estêvão escaped a red card after kicking out when denied a penalty, Delap and Jackson were booked for dissent, and other players picked up needless yellows. Five cards in all, undoing the control Xabi Alonso needed after Chelsea's club-record 11 reds last season.

Alonso inherits a forward line headache: Estêvão, Delap and Jackson form a promising attacking trio, yet he also has João Pedro, new arrival Danny Welbeck and Mykhailo Mudryk's unexpected return from a drugs ban to navigate. A bloated squad of 41 players and barely two weeks before facing Fulham in the Premier League opener on 24 August compound the challenge ahead.