Fluminense aim to beat Chelsea to continue Club World Cup fairytale
In around half a year, Brazilian side Fluminense went from relegation candidate to surprise Club World Cup semi-finalists and will now face Chelsea as they aim to write a fairytale in the United States.
The club from Rio de Janeiro is the only non-European club to reach this stage of the revamped tournament. Just some six months ago, however, the team was fighting to avoid relegation to the second division.
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"God has blessed us and made it possible for us to overcome that moment," veteran captain Thiago Silva said ahead of the clash against Chelsea on Tuesday.
The 40-year-old defender was a key player to help Fluminense avoid relegation and now reach the Club World Cup semi-finals. A win against Chelsea would see them face either Real Madrid or Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain.
Fluminense are something of an "ugly duckling" in this elite circle, coach Renato Portaluppi joked. But in sporting terms, the underdog team earned this prestigious game on the big football stage.
"Many people didn't believe in us - and now we're in the semi-finals. Fluminense are now one of the four best teams in the world," Portaluppi said.
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"I always tell the guys 'Don't put off until tomorrow what you can achieve today.' Who knows when another chance like this will come along?"
For Thiago Silva, it's also a reunion with his past. He played for Chelsea between 2020 and 2024, winning the Champions League and the old format of the Club World Cup in 2021 under coach Thomas Tuchel.
Silva also played in Europa for AC Milan and PSG, among other teams. But last year, he returned to his hometown club Fluminense.
"He's a phenomenon. He has enormous experience and is an extension of the coach on the pitch," Portaluppi said.
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