Xabi Alonso Set to Face Former Teammate Luis Garcia as Chelsea Visits Malaysia

When Chelsea arrives in Malaysia for the final stage of their pre-season tour, new manager Xabi Alonso will reunite with his former Liverpool teammate, Luis Garcia. Garcia now serves as the chief executive of Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), who will host Chelsea at the 40,000-capacity Sultan Ibrahim Stadium this Sunday.

Their history dates back to 2004 when both signed with Rafael Benitez’s Liverpool on the same day. The unveiling press conference at Anfield marked their first proper meeting, where Garcia recalled Alonso expressing his concerns about his English skills.

“He told me he didn’t speak English too well before our unveiling press conference,” Garcia stated in an interview with BBC Sport. “I answered the first question in Spanish, as we had a translator present, and he answered in perfect English and I thought: ‘Why you little?!’”

Both players were integral in Liverpool’s unforgettable comeback victory over AC Milan in the Champions League final that season and later played together for the Spanish national team.

Garcia expressed their enduring friendship, stating that they have maintained contact. However, he acknowledged that Alonso faces a tough challenge in this last overseas friendly. Chelsea’s tour has already seen them compete in Australia and other regions of Asia against formidable European teams such as Tottenham, Juventus, and AC Milan, culminating in the match in Johor.

“This match will be a monumental moment in JDT’s history and a significant milestone for Malaysian football,” Garcia noted. “Chelsea is the biggest test we will face this season. I’ll be thrilled to welcome them in Johor; the stadium is going to be packed.”

“We are eager to compete against a top club and elite players. Facing Alonso is also a great opportunity. I genuinely wish him all the best at Chelsea, but I hope he finishes second to Liverpool next season,” Garcia added.

‘We want Malaysia to reach the World Cup some day’

In preparation for their match against Chelsea, JDT recently faced Rangers and Spanish side Elche, securing a draw before defeating Cartagena during their training camp in Alicante. The team has not lost a domestic match since 2021 and currently boasts a world record-equalling unbeaten streak of 108 games, a record that could extend when the Malaysian season resumes in August.

Garcia expressed hope for breaking the domestic unbeaten record in their opening game of the season, praising the club’s owner, His Royal Highness Ismail Tunku, for leading the team on an impressive journey. He highlighted the high-quality stadium and training facilities that are gaining attention.

“We don’t have a limit, and that motto of ‘the sky is never the limit’ inspires us frequently in the dressing room,” he stated, noting their facilities are modeled after Real Madrid’s renowned training base.

Garcia, who divides his time between Spain and Malaysia, acquired his UEFA Pro Licence and sporting director licence after his retirement. His responsibilities extend beyond coaching to include commercial ventures and strategic planning, although he primarily leaves coaching to compatriot Xisco Munoz and a Spanish coaching staff dedicated to elevating Malaysian football.

“We want to raise the standard of Malaysian football and establish an outstanding academy,” he added. “By bringing in Spanish coaches, we aim to adopt a more professional approach.”

Garcia further emphasized the importance of a robust coaching program and football philosophy, illustrating how Spain’s recent World Cup win reflects such value. Reaching the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League last season marked a significant step for JDT, and Garcia expressed a desire for more Malaysian teams to join the competition.

“Our next goal is to continue competing in the Asian Champions League. Last year served as our introduction, and though we faced major financial disparities—competing against clubs with budgets exceeding $150 million while we operate with $15 million—our mission is to contribute to the advancement of Malaysian football and hopefully reach the World Cup someday,” he concluded.

When Chelsea arrive in Malaysia for the final leg of their pre-season tour, new manager Xabi Alonso will be reunited with former Liverpool team-mate Luis Garcia.

Garcia is now the chief executive of Johor Darul Ta’zim, who welcome Chelsea to their 40,000-capacity Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on Sunday.

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The two Spaniards go way back to 2004, when they both signed for Rafael Benitez’s Liverpool on the same day.

Despite facing each other multiple times in the Spanish football ecosystem, that day at Anfield was the first time they met properly.

“He told me he didn’t speak English too well before our unveiling press conference,” Garcia told BBC Sport.

“I answered the first question in Spanish, as we had a translator present, and he answered in perfect English and I thought: ‘Why you little?!'”

Both started in Liverpool’s dramatic Champions League final win over AC Milan at the end of that season and they went on to play together for Spain.

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Garcia says they remain “really good friends” and have stayed in touch, but insists Alonso is facing a difficult final overseas friendly.

After matches in Australia and other parts of Asia against elite European football opposition such as Tottenham, Juventus and AC Milan, Chelsea’s tour ends in Johor.

The match will be a monumental moment in the JDT’s history and for Malaysian football as a whole.

“Chelsea is the biggest test we will face this season,” Garcia admits. “I’ll be so happy to welcome them in Johor. The stadium is going to be packed.

“We can’t wait to challenge ourselves against a top club, top players and it is great to face Alonso. I can assure you on Sunday we will compete.

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“I wish him all the best [at Chelsea], but even though I love him, hopefully he ends up second to Liverpool next season.”

‘We want Malaysia to reach the World Cup some day’

JDT drew with Rangers and Spanish second-division side Elche before beating Cartagena, as they took on European opposition in a training camp in Alicante.

They have not lost a domestic match since 2021 and are currently on a world record-equalling 108-game unbeaten run, which could soon be extended when the Malaysian season restarts in August.

Success on the Asian continent is also becoming a realistic prospect after reaching the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League last season.

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“Hopefully in the first game of the season we’ll break one of the most incredible records in football, that is the domestic unbeaten run,” Garcia said.

“The owner is the Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Ismail Tunku. He has taken the club on an amazing journey. Top-class stadium and training facilities that people will be talking about.

“We don’t have a limit, and that motto of ‘the sky is never the limit’ is something that we repeat quite often in the dressing room.”

Those facilities are based on Real Madrid’s aptly nicknamed White House training base.

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Garcia, who splits his time between Spain and Malaysia, gained his Uefa Pro Licence and sporting director licence after retiring.

However, his work also extends to commercial activities and wider planning behind the scenes, although he leaves the coaching duties to compatriot Xisco Munoz.

There are also Spanish coaches throughout the backroom staff and academy, delivering best-in-class coaching to Malaysian talent.

“We want to increase the level of Malaysian football and have a fantastic academy. We brought Spanish coaches to the academy so we can get closer to the best, professional style of work,” Garcia added.

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“Spain winning the World Cup shows you the value of having a coaching programme and a football philosophy that lasts 25-30 years.

“We got to the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League and would like more Malaysian teams in the competition.

“The next step is to compete in the Asian Champions League and last year was our main introduction. We arrived there, and we kind of caught up with the situation. It was difficult against teams that [have] got budgets that pass over $150m (£111.2m) and we only have $15m, so it’s quite a difference, a big gap between.

“But we want to contribute to the development of Malaysian football to reach the World Cup some day.”