In black and white were Italian international Manuel Locatelli and Brazilian international Douglas Luiz. Meanwhile, wearing blue were Ecuador international and captain Moises Caicedo and Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, a 16-year-old product of our Academy.

It's a testament to the England youth international's quality and mentality that he did not look out of place. Nicoll-Jazuli used the ball well and was combative when necessary against players several years his senior.

Nicoll-Jazuli played the opening two-thirds of the game before being replaced by Romeo Lavia. Blues manager Xabi Alonso was impressed with how the teenager handled himself, although he emphasised there is plenty more for the young midfielder to learn and improve.

'It's incredible – I don't even remember when I was 16 who I was playing against,' said Alonso. 'But he was playing against Locatelli, against Douglas Luiz, these experienced players. For sure it's something that he will remember in the future.

'You can learn so much, as what it takes to be a top-level player is not just about having good technique. It's about understanding the game, having composure with the ball, when to defend hard, many things that he still has to learn.

'This is what I like: to see players progress. So far, they have this desire to learn.'

The game against Juventus was the third on our summer tour of Australia and Asia. Everything is geared toward ensuring the Blues enjoy a strong 2026/27 campaign and while disappointed not to defeat the Serie A side in Hong Kong, Alonso is aware of the bigger picture.

He said: 'We started pretty well; the first 30-to-35 minutes we played with good control and created a few chances.

'In the last minutes of the half, a little bit like on Saturday [against Tottenham], we lost a little bit of the control. In the second half, there were many changes and the game was not that controlled, a little bit unstable with all the substitutions.

'Unfortunately, we didn’t get to win, but it’s a process, minutes for everyone, and we have two more games before we go back to London. Then we will have other players who will also start the season with us.'