Chelsea have advanced to the quarter-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup and will fancy their chances of going all the way, especially given how the tournament bracket has unfolded.
After finishing second in their group behind Flamengo, the Blues have landed on what appears to be the more favorable side of the draw. They even took a subtle jab at the Brazilian side following their early elimination. ..Continue Reading
Manchester City are no longer in the competition, and veteran defender Thiago Silva played a key role in shutting down Champions League runners-up Inter Milan in a commanding display.
Next up for Chelsea is a clash with Palmeiras in Philadelphia on Friday, where manager Enzo Maresca will get his first live look at Estevão Willian—who is set to join the Blues after the tournament.
With Estevão reportedly unhappy with his current coach, Chelsea will be hopeful of capitalizing on any unrest and progressing to a potential semi-final showdown against either Fluminense or Al-Hilal.
Even with the possibility of facing European heavyweights like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, or PSG in the final, Chelsea’s odds look promising.
According to Opta’s Supercomputer via The Analyst, the Blues have a 26.8% chance of lifting the trophy—the highest of any team remaining.
Maresca has already brought silverware to Stamford Bridge by winning the Europa Conference League, and adding the Club World Cup would mark an extraordinary first year in charge.
Due to the intense heat in the U.S., Maresca has had to rotate heavily, using nearly all his outfield players throughout the competition.
That’s why the imminent arrival of João Pedro from Brighton—who has already joined the squad in the U.S. and is eligible to play—is a welcome boost.
Pedro could make his debut against Palmeiras, while Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, who featured for Borussia Dortmund earlier in the tournament, will have to wait for his Chelsea bow.
Given Maresca’s admiration for Pedro’s versatility and attacking flair, the Brazilian is expected to be seriously considered for selection despite limited time with the squad.
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