Chelsea’s pre-season suffered a double defensive setback as Mamadou Sarr pulled out injured before the friendly against Johor Darul Ta’zim and Aaron Anselmino was forced off during the first half.
Sarr, 20, withdrew just before kick-off after being named in the starting line-up. Anselmino, 21, then left the match midway through the first half as Chelsea continued their pre-season schedule.
Chelsea suffer two defensive setbacks in Malaysia
Sarr’s withdrawal came before the match began. Having been named in Chelsea’s starting XI, he was unable to take part against Johor Darul Ta’zim.
Anselmino’s injury followed after the game got under way. He was forced off during the first half after showing encouraging signs, with Chelsea fielding a largely second-string side.
The match ended 3-3, with confusion after a penalty shootout appeared to have been cancelled. Chelsea’s pre-season has also included defeats to Tottenham and Juventus, alongside wins over Western Sydney Warriors and AC Milan.
Neither Sarr nor Anselmino has been a key first-team player for Chelsea. Sarr joined from Strasbourg in 2025 and returned to Stamford Bridge in February after a loan spell with the French club. He has made six appearances for Chelsea. Anselmino joined from Boca Juniors in 2024 and has had loan spells with Boca, Borussia Dortmund and Strasbourg. He has made one Chelsea appearance, playing three minutes.
Alonso has centre-half options
Neither player was being primed for Chelsea’s first team ahead of the 2026/27 season, though pre-season offered an opportunity to compete for a place in the squad.
Alonso has several centre-half options, including Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo and Josh Acheampong. Summer signing Maxence Lacroix is another option in that position.
Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah and Axel Disasi are also still Chelsea players but look set to leave during the summer transfer window. The injuries to Sarr and Anselmino reduce the available options during the remaining pre-season matches.
What happens next
Chelsea’s next match is their final pre-season friendly against Real Sociedad. The supplied evidence does not state the seriousness of either Sarr’s or Anselmino’s injury.
With the new season approaching, Chelsea will be looking to maintain depth in central defence while the futures of several defenders remain unresolved.
