When Chelsea touch down in Malaysia for the final stop of their pre-season tour, manager Xabi Alonso will come face to face with an old friend — Luis Garcia, chief executive of Johor Darul Ta'zim.

JDT host Chelsea at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on Sunday, in what Garcia describes as the biggest test his club will face all season. The 40,000-capacity ground is expected to be sold out for the occasion.

A friendship forged at Anfield

The two Spaniards first met properly on the same day in 2004, when they both put pen to paper for Rafael Benitez's Liverpool. Despite having crossed paths in the Spanish football ecosystem before, it took a shared signing day at Anfield to bring them together.

Garcia recalled a memorable moment from their unveiling press conference. "He told me he didn't speak English too well before our press conference," Garcia told BBC Sport. "I answered the first question in Spanish, as we had a translator present, and he answered in perfect English and I thought: 'Why you little?!'"

Both men featured in Liverpool's extraordinary UEFA Champions League final victory over AC Milan that season, and the pair went on to represent Spain together at international level. Garcia says they remain "really good friends" to this day.

The warm feelings only go so far, however. "I wish him all the best at Chelsea, but even though I love him, hopefully he ends up second to Liverpool next season," Garcia said with a smile.

A test of character for JDT

Chelsea's pre-season tour has already featured clashes against Tottenham Hotspur, Juventus, and AC Milan in Australia and across Asia. The Johor match brings down the curtain on that demanding schedule.

"Chelsea is the biggest test we will face this season," Garcia admitted. "We can't wait to challenge ourselves against a top club, top players — and it is great to face Alonso. I can assure you on Sunday we will compete."

JDT arrive in fine form. They have not lost a domestic match since 2021 and are currently on a world record-equalling 108-game unbeaten run in league football. When the Malaysian season resumes in August, Garcia hopes his side can extend that run and make history outright.

Bigger ambitions for Malaysian football

Under the patronage of the Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Ismail Tunku, JDT have invested heavily in elite infrastructure. Their training base draws direct inspiration from Real Madrid's training facility, and Spanish coaches have been embedded throughout the backroom staff and academy.

"We want to increase the level of Malaysian football and have a fantastic academy. We brought Spanish coaches so we can get closer to the best, professional style of work," Garcia said.

Last season JDT reached the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League — a milestone Garcia views as just the beginning. Competing against clubs with budgets exceeding $150 million (£111.2m) on just $15 million presents an enormous challenge, but Garcia sees it as motivation rather than a ceiling.

"We don't have a limit, and that motto of 'the sky is never the limit' is something that we repeat quite often in the dressing room," he said. "We want to contribute to the development of Malaysian football to reach the World Cup some day."

Garcia, who earned his Uefa Pro Licence and sporting director licence after retiring, splits his time between Spain and Malaysia. Coaching responsibilities sit with compatriot Xisco Munoz, while Garcia focuses on commercial and strategic development.