Two of Chelsea’s most important assets sat out the club’s pre-season friendly against Juventus in Hong Kong on August 5, with both Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill sidelined due to minor fitness concerns.

Palmer was spotted doing individual training work rather than joining the full squad, while Colwill didn’t participate in group sessions at all. Neither absence appears to be serious, but the decision to hold them out of a high-profile fixture at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Park reflects a management philosophy that treats pre-season friendlies as exactly what they are: exhibitions, not must-wins.

The context behind Chelsea’s caution

Both Palmer and Colwill missed England’s 2026 World Cup squad earlier this year due to injuries. That history makes the club’s conservative approach during pre-season look less like overcaution and more like basic risk management.

Alonso, who took over Chelsea’s managerial role ahead of the 2026/27 season, brought a 29-man squad on the club’s Asia and Australia tour. The itinerary started with matches in Australia before moving to Hong Kong, with a final stop in Jakarta.

The Juventus match, broadcast on Chelsea’s CFC+ streaming platform with regional restrictions, kicked off at 7:30pm local time in Hong Kong. For fans in the UK, that meant a 12:30pm BST start. Pre-season tours like these serve a dual purpose: they build match fitness for the squad while generating significant commercial revenue in key growth markets across Asia.