New managers making instant impact as Club World Cup quarter-finals take shape
Arguably none has made a bigger splash than Simone Inzaghi, who delivered one of the tournament's biggest shocks when his Al Hilal side stunned Pep Guardiola's Manchester City 4-3 in a breathtaking extra-time thriller.
The 49-year-old Italian, who left Inter Milan after their Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain just five weeks ago, got sweet revenge on Monday against the Premier League giants who had beaten his Nerazzurri in the 2023 Champions League final.
Inzaghi took the win by playing steady, rock-solid defence and exploring the speed of his forwards up-front with long balls that exploited their opponent's aggressive, high-positioned defensive line.
Malcom and Marcos Leonardo were a constant menace on the counter-attack throughout the match, while his defenders managed to slow down City's star-powered attack for most of the game.
And when they were threatened, Moroccan goalkeeper Bono worked his magic with a string of world-class saves to frustrate their opponents and keep the Saudis in the game.
Al Hilal's reward is a quarter-final clash with tournament underdogs Fluminense, who defied the Opta supercomputer's odds of just 0.05% to win the title and stunned Champions League runners-up Inter Milan 2-0 to reach the last eight.
Initially tipped to exit in the group stage, the Brazilian side's remarkable run continues under Renato Gaucho, a former Fluminense striker and club legend who took charge three months ago. Renato has transformed a team that narrowly avoided relegation in 2024 into genuine contenders, with Colombian winger Jhon Arias emerging as a potential tournament MVP.
Against Inter, Fluminense showed the grit and determination that have defined their campaign with a remarkable Arias and striker German Cano once again making the difference.
Real Madrid complete the trio of new-manager success stories, with Xabi Alonso arriving a month ago to replace Carlo Ancelotti after a rare trophy-less season that included four consecutive defeats to Barcelona, including a humiliating 4-0 Clasico thrashing at the Bernabeu.
Arriving with a reputation for innovative tactics following his trophy-laden stint at Bayer Leverkusen, Alonso has started using a five-man defence, marking a significant departure from the traditional 4-3-3 formation used by predecessors Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane over the past decade.
The change evoked memories of Vicente del Bosque's 2000 Champions League-winning side, the last Real Madrid team to adopt such a structure, as Real prepare to face Borussia Dortmund on Saturday off the back of three consecutive wins.
As the tournament progresses, the early success of these new managerial appointments suggests that fresh ideas and bold decisions can reshape even the most storied teams.
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BBC News
35 minutes ago
- BBC News
Neto a doubt after Jota death
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca says it's "completely" Pedro Neto's decision whether he wants to play in the Club World Cup after his international team-mate Diogo Jota died in a car crash on Thursday. Neto, 25, lined up with Jota for his former club Wolves and country Portugal and was absent from the final training session in Miami ahead of an upcoming quarter-final against Palmeiras. The Blues had given Neto an indefinite period of compassionate leave after news filtered through that Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, both died in a car crash in the Spanish province of asked for his reaction to Jota's passing and to explain the situation around Neto, Maresca said: "It's a very sad day. I struggle to find words, you feel a little bit helpless in this kind of situation, and the only thing I can say is all my love to his family and it's a big tragedy for them."He added: "Then, in terms of Pedro, he's very sad, probably more than sad, but we are also close to Pedro to support him in this moment."It's completely Pedro's decision (whether he plays). I had a chat this morning with Pedro. We support him. Any decision he will take is the correct one, and we are going to support him in any case. "We will see how he is feeling tomorrow, it doesn't matter if he will be on the pitch or not."Watch a short Jota documentary on iPlayerChelsea's club captain Reece James also paid tribute to Jota, adding: "The whole football world is devastated by the passing of Diogo and his brother. It's obviously a difficult time for everyone involved and his close friends and family. It's such a tragic accident."BBC Sport has been told the Jota was on his way back to Liverpool for pre-season training, making the trip by car and ferry because he had undergone minor surgery so doctors advised him against flying. A vigil and wake for Jota and his brother will take place on Friday afternoon before their funeral on Saturday in Porto, Cucurella, a Chelsea defender who is known to have a close relationship with Neto, added: "He and the manager must decide but it's important that Pedro feels good, football is secondary but whatever they decide will be right."Right now Pedro can help us as he is a player in form. I told him if he plays then it is his destiny to score."Maresca added midfielder Romeo Lavia is a doubt due to "muscular problems" and Player of the Season Moises Caicedo is suspended, but new £55m forward Joao Pedro, signed from Brighton on Wednesday, could play some part. "Joao's situation is a bit strange or different because you know he was on holiday," Maresca added. "But we are very happy with Joao and we will see if we need him tomorrow or we're going to give him some minutes."Maresca couldn't confirm the signing of winger Jamie Gittens from Dortmund despite an official announcement from the German club. But he addressed the likely scenario of facing new signing Estevao Willian, who will join in a £29.1m move from Palmeiras after the Club World Cup, adding: "We prepare the game against Palmeiras, not against Estevao. He is a Palmeiras player that is going to play against Chelsea tomorrow. "We don't care if in the future he will be with us. The only thing we are focused on is to do our best to try to beat Palmeiras and not to beat Estevao."
Scottish Sun
36 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Chelsea will allow heartbroken Pedro Neto to sit out Club World Cup quarter-final after death of friend Diego Jota
NETO DEVASTATION Chelsea will allow heartbroken Pedro Neto to sit out Club World Cup quarter-final after death of friend Diego Jota ENZO MARESCA has left heartbroken Pedro Neto to decide if he can face up to football on Saturday following the tragic death of Diogo Jota. Chelsea's Portuguese winger sat out training after hearing of the fatal accident involving his former club and country team-mate yesterday. 2 Pedro Neto sat out training after learning of his former team-mate Diogo Jota's death Credit: Getty 2 Jota tragically died in a car accident Credit: PA The Blues face Palmeiras in the quarter-final of the Club World Cup and Neto has been one of the standout players of the tournament. But boss Maresca said: 'Pedro is very sad. Probably more than sad, but we are close to Pedro, to support him this morning. 'It's completely Pedro's decision, I had a chat this morning, We support him. Any decision he takes is the right one, we will support him in any case. If on the pitch tomorrow or not, we will support him. 'It's a very sad day. I struggle to find words, it's very difficult, the feeling that you have is helpless in this situation. 'The only thing I can say is all my love for his family, a big tragedy.' Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella says the entire squad is right behind Neto but that maybe it is 'destiny' for him to play - and score on such an emotional occasion. Cucurella added: 'In the morning he was sad and it was not his best moment. But we tried to stay together and in the afternoon he was a bit better and I told him that if he's going to play then he will score because that is destiny. 'Hopefully we can show his love and all the good friends that we are and dedicate the goal to him. 'The manager and he must decide but it's important that Pedro feels good, football is secondary but it's a long day tomorrow and whatever they decide will be good. But right now he's a player in form and I think Pedro can help us in this game.' 'It's a bad moment, we send all our love to the family, the wife, the kids, and I do it from me, the whole Chelsea squad and football. Cole Palmer stars in brilliant advert as he sets up helpline for rivals he has skinned 'Football is not important at times like this. The most important thing is that we show respect and all our love. ' I saw the news as soon as I woke up. It was a difficult moment because these things can happen to all of us at any moment and then you start to think if you don't feel good, or you don't give 100 per cent, or feel bad when these things happen, it's important to be happy and live life every day. 'The morning was a bit difficult, you don't feel good or have the energy to play but tomorrow is a good moment to show all the love, all the respect because I think he enjoyed playing football and scoring football. 'That's why this will be a good opportunity to show on the pitch which is where he felt good.'
The Sun
36 minutes ago
- The Sun
Chelsea will allow heartbroken Pedro Neto to sit out Club World Cup quarter-final after death of friend Diego Jota
ENZO MARESCA has left heartbroken Pedro Neto to decide if he can face up to football on Saturday following the tragic death of Diogo Jota. Chelsea's Portuguese winger sat out training after hearing of the fatal accident involving his former club and country team-mate yesterday. 2 2 The Blues face Palmeiras in the quarter-final of the Club World Cup and Neto has been one of the standout players of the tournament. But boss Maresca said: 'Pedro is very sad. Probably more than sad, but we are close to Pedro, to support him this morning. 'It's completely Pedro's decision, I had a chat this morning, We support him. Any decision he takes is the right one, we will support him in any case. If on the pitch tomorrow or not, we will support him. 'It's a very sad day. I struggle to find words, it's very difficult, the feeling that you have is helpless in this situation. 'The only thing I can say is all my love for his family, a big tragedy.' Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella says the entire squad is right behind Neto but that maybe it is 'destiny' for him to play - and score on such an emotional occasion. Cucurella added: 'In the morning he was sad and it was not his best moment. But we tried to stay together and in the afternoon he was a bit better and I told him that if he's going to play then he will score because that is destiny. 'Hopefully we can show his love and all the good friends that we are and dedicate the goal to him. 'The manager and he must decide but it's important that Pedro feels good, football is secondary but it's a long day tomorrow and whatever they decide will be good. But right now he's a player in form and I think Pedro can help us in this game.' 'It's a bad moment, we send all our love to the family, the wife, the kids, and I do it from me, the whole Chelsea squad and football. Cole Palmer stars in brilliant advert as he sets up helpline for rivals he has skinned 'Football is not important at times like this. The most important thing is that we show respect and all our love. ' I saw the news as soon as I woke up. It was a difficult moment because these things can happen to all of us at any moment and then you start to think if you don't feel good, or you don't give 100 per cent, or feel bad when these things happen, it's important to be happy and live life every day. 'The morning was a bit difficult, you don't feel good or have the energy to play but tomorrow is a good moment to show all the love, all the respect because I think he enjoyed playing football and scoring football. 'That's why this will be a good opportunity to show on the pitch which is where he felt good.'
