Garcia challenges Alonso’s Chelsea to finish behind Liverpool
The JDT boss hopes the new Chelsea manager’s side will finish second in the Premier League, while highlighting his club’s record unbeaten run and ambitious development plans.
Luis Garcia, the chief executive of Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), has issued a polite but pointed challenge to new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso ahead of their pre-season friendly in Malaysia. Garcia, who played alongside Alonso at Liverpool between 2004 and 2007, expressed his personal hope that Alonso’s Chelsea would finish second in the upcoming Premier League season, behind their former club.
The reunion takes place at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, where JDT will host Chelsea for a match Garcia describes as the club’s biggest test of the season. The two Spaniards first crossed paths in 2004 when they signed for Rafael Benitez’s Liverpool on the same day. Garcia recalled their unveiling press conference, noting that while he answered the first question in Spanish, Alonso responded in perfect English, a moment that surprised the former forward.
Garcia highlighted the stark contrast in resources between the two clubs, noting that JDT reached the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League last season with a budget of approximately $15m (£111.2m). This figure is significantly lower than the budgets of competitors, which exceed $150m. Despite this financial disparity, Garcia emphasized the club’s ambition to raise the standard of Malaysian football and potentially reach the World Cup.
The JDT chief executive also pointed to the club’s remarkable domestic form, having not lost a league match since 2021. This streak currently stands at 108 games, equalling a world record. Garcia indicated that the upcoming Malaysian season, which restarts in August, presents an opportunity to extend this run, with owner His Royal Highness Ismail Tunku investing heavily in facilities comparable to Real Madrid’s training base.
While Garcia welcomed Alonso and praised the quality of the Chelsea squad, he made it clear that JDT intends to compete fiercely. The club has already faced European opposition in a training camp in Alicante, drawing with Rangers and Elche before beating Cartagena. Garcia confirmed that while he handles executive duties, coaching responsibilities are managed by compatriot Xisco Munoz, with a broader Spanish coaching presence aimed at developing local talent.
