Marco Palestra impressed in an unfamiliar left-back role as Chelsea beat AC Milan 3-0.
Chelsea secured an impressive 3-0 friendly victory over AC Milan in Jakarta, but much of the attention was drawn to Marco Palestra after the Italian delivered an outstanding performance in an unfamiliar role.
What a performance! 👏 pic.twitter.com/GcUZXwXbRj
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 8, 2026
The 21-year-old started at left-back but repeatedly pushed forward, showing the attacking instincts and technical quality that have made him an intriguing prospect.
Palestra has traditionally operated on the right side, either as a full-back or wing-back, after coming through the Atalanta academy as a midfielder. His versatility was on full display against Milan as he appeared comfortable moving into advanced positions and effectively became another attacking outlet for Chelsea.
Marco Palestra 🥶 pic.twitter.com/45xNHerY8o
— CFC Pics (@Mohxmmad) August 8, 2026
The Italian was involved from the opening stages, providing a dangerous assist for Danny Welbeck, whose effort struck the post. Palestra continued to cause problems with his movement and passing, later setting up Pedro Neto for another opportunity as Chelsea began to establish control.
His confidence in possession was arguably the most eye-catching aspect of his performance. Palestra repeatedly took on AC Milan players, carried the ball forward and looked comfortable operating in tight areas. Despite being deployed on the opposite side to his usual position, he showed little hesitation about getting forward and joining Chelsea’s attacks.
Chelsea eventually broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time when a Moises Caicedo corner found Joao Pedro at the far post, with the Brazilian heading beyond Lorenzo Torriani. It was a deserved reward for Chelsea after they had created several promising openings, with Palestra among the players helping to stretch Milan’s defence.
The second half brought an even more decisive spell from Chelsea. Joao Pedro doubled the advantage less than a minute after the restart, finishing from close range after Pedro Neto’s cross reached the far post. Caicedo then added a spectacular third, striking a volley from the edge of the box to put the result beyond doubt.
While Chelsea’s attacking players grabbed the goals, Palestra remained one of the most impressive performers on the pitch. His ability to switch between defensive and attacking responsibilities gave Chelsea another dimension, while his dribbling and willingness to carry the ball forward made him look far more like an attacking winger than a conventional full-back.
When the season starts, people will ask when Chelsea signed this winger, and they’re just talking about Palestra 😂
— Elvis Tunde (@Tunnykvng) August 8, 2026
The performance also highlighted why Palestra’s versatility could become an important asset for Chelsea in the new season.
