Luis Garcia hopes his former Liverpool team-mate Xabi Alonso can lead Chelsea to second place in the Premier League next season, behind Liverpool.
Garcia set for Alonso reunion in Johor
Garcia, now chief executive of Johor Darul Ta’zim, will be reunited with Alonso when Chelsea visit Malaysia for the final leg of their pre-season tour. JDT will host Chelsea at the 40,000-capacity Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on Sunday.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Garcia said he would be delighted to welcome Chelsea to Johor and face Alonso again. He also said JDT would compete against the Premier League club.
Garcia and Alonso first met properly after joining Rafael Benitez’s Liverpool on the same day in 2004. Garcia recalled that Alonso had said before their unveiling press conference that his English was limited, before answering a question fluently in English.
The pair started Liverpool’s Champions League final victory over AC Milan at the end of the 2004-05 season and later played together for Spain. Garcia said they have remained good friends and stayed in touch.
Garcia hopes Chelsea finish behind Liverpool
Despite their friendship, Garcia said he hopes Alonso’s Chelsea finish second to Liverpool next season. His remarks came as Chelsea prepare for their final overseas friendly before the new campaign.
Chelsea’s tour has included matches in Australia and elsewhere in Asia against European opposition including Tottenham, Juventus and AC Milan. The visit is a major occasion for JDT and Malaysian football, according to Garcia, who described Chelsea as his club’s biggest test of the season.
Garcia said the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium will be full for the match and that JDT are looking forward to testing themselves against top-level opponents. Alonso’s visit also brings together two former Liverpool colleagues whose shared history stretches back more than two decades.
JDT’s domestic run and continental ambitions
JDT drew with Rangers and Spanish second-tier side Elche before beating Cartagena during a training camp in Alicante. The club have not lost a domestic match since 2021 and are on a world record-equalling 108-game unbeaten run, which could be extended when the Malaysian season restarts in August.
The club reached the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League last season, and Garcia said JDT want to continue competing on the Asian stage. He said the team faces a substantial financial gap when playing opponents with far larger budgets.
Garcia splits his time between Spain and Malaysia. After retiring, he gained a Uefa Pro Licence and a sporting director licence, while his work at JDT includes commercial activity and wider planning. Xisco Munoz leads the coaching, supported by Spanish coaches across the backroom staff and academy.
Garcia said JDT want to raise the level of Malaysian football through their academy and coaching structure, with the long-term aim of helping Malaysia reach the World Cup.
