Xabi Alonso forced to drag Austin MacPhee away from furious row as new Chelsea set-piece coach clashes with rival

AUSTIN MACPHEE was involved in a heated row following a poor challenge on Chelsea striker Liam Delap. The Blues drew 3-3 with Malaysian champions Johor Darul Ta’zim in Jakarta. Liam Delap was in the thick of the action in Malaysia Credit: Getty With 67 minutes on the clock, home defender Antonio Glauder needlessly went through the back of Delap with a scything tackle. Chelsea stars were furious with the challenge, centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo leading the on-field scuffle. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! The Blues’ new set piece coach MacPhee was also raging. Following the challenge, the Scot and boss Xabi Alonso protested to the fourth official. At this point, a member of the Johor coaching staff got into MacPhee’s face and poked his finger into his chest. The former Aston Villa and Scotland national team coach didn’t back down, furiously bellowing into his rival’s face, with Alonso intervening. Chelsea fans loved the passion of their new set piece guru. One wrote on X: “Austin MacPhee looks ready to throw hands”. Most read in Football BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS Austin MacPhee arrived from Aston Villa in the summer Credit: Getty And a second joked: “Austin Macphee saying f*** off to the coach while Delap and Tosin lose their heads bruv this is the Chelsea I know”. Another added: “Austin MacPhee, the set piece coach is ready to work for the badge”. Delap, who scored two penalties during the match, was okay to continue and Glauder went on to score a late own goal for Chelsea to equalise at 3-3. It had been believed that the match would go to penalties, should it finish level. But both sets of players left the pitch following the end of 90 minutes and did not return. The Blues will now head home from their long Far East tour. Alonso’s men will return to action against Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with their Prem opener coming at neighbours Fulham on August 24. Comment now