Palmeiras fans have been out in force in Abu Dhabi this week. They have travelled thousands of miles to watch the Club World Cup and have been showing their colours with pride before Abel Ferreira’s side take on Chelsea, who will be making a big mistake if they show any complacency during Saturday night’s final at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.
This is a huge moment for Palmeiras; a chance, at long last, to silence taunts from rival Brazilian clubs about their barren record in this tournament. The Copa Libertadores champions understand what is at stake. They have long since had to accept that their triumph in the Copa Rio in 1951, the original intercontinental club tournament, is not enough to stop the chants of “Palmeiras não tem Mundial” – Palmeiras don’t have a World Cup – from fans of Corinthians, São Paulo and Santos. There is only one way to scratch the itch: by defying the odds and dashing Chelsea’s hopes of becoming world champions for the first time.
History is on the line. This is the only major trophy that has eluded Chelsea during the Roman Abramovich era and the European champions do not need to be told how seriously this competition is taken in Brazil. They were beaten finalists when they faced Corinthians in 2012 and they know that Palmeiras’s fans are going to turn the stadium green. “Palmeiras are huge,” Thiago Silva, Chelsea’s Brazilian centre-back, said. “We know that with the presence of fans here, their team is much stronger.”
It is not going to be straightforward, although it looks increasingly likely that Thomas Tuchel will be at the final. The manager arrived in Abu Dhabi on Friday after a negative Covid test, having had to stay in London after contracting the virus, and will be on the touchline subject to the result of a further PCR test taken after he landed. Chelsea could do with him there. They did not convince when they beat Al-Hilal 1-0 on Wednesday and will be in trouble if there is no improvement against Palmeiras, who were comfortable 2-0 winners against Al-Ahly in the other semi-final.
“It is unfortunate Thomas was not here but we hope he will join us,” Jorginho, Chelsea’s vice-captain, said. “It gives you more because he is your coach and there is more energy in the changing room.”
In the absence of Tuchel it has been up to the German’s assistants, Zsolt Low and Arno Michels, to take charge. The backroom team have had to take on more responsibility. Anthony Barry and Benjamin Weber were both talked up by Jorginho and there has also been help from Petr Cech, Chelsea’s technical and performance adviser.
Cech has plenty of experience to offer Tuchel’s squad. He was in goal when Chelsea lost to Corinthians in Japan just over nine years ago and the memory eats away at him. These opportunities do not come around often and Cech has been telling this generation not to fly home with regrets.
The issue is that this tournament is still not taken entirely seriously by European teams. It is often viewed as an inconvenience, an unwanted interruption in the middle of a domestic campaign, but that can level the playing field and give hope to the underdogs.
Chelsea certainly had the wrong attitude on the only other occasion when they were Europe’s representatives in the Club World Cup. Too many of Rafael Benítez’s players were unhappy with the quality of their hotel and the negativity affected their performance, Corinthians winning 1-0 thanks to a goal from Paolo Guerrero.
It has to be different this time. Chelsea are staying in a plush hotel, the sun is shining and there were concerns that it would feel like a pre-season tour when they landed in Abu Dhabi. Would the intensity be there? Or would the players see it as a chance to relax after a taxing winter period?
It has not been an easy few months for Chelsea. Injuries have disrupted their momentum, their title challenge has faded away and Romelu Lukaku still looks unconvincing. This, though, is a chance to lift the mood. Lukaku scored against Al-Hilal, Kepa Arrizabalaga made two brilliant saves and the sense in the coaching team is that the players understand what it would mean to become world champions.
Palmeiras, who have won back-to-back Copa Libertadores titles, are not to be taken lightly. Tuchel, who does not want to leave anything to chance, is considering whether to bring Édouard Mendy in for Arrizabalaga. Mason Mount and N’Golo Kanté could also return to the starting lineup and the message from Jorginho was that anything could happen. Palmeiras, who lost in the semi-finals last year, are going to be up for it. Chelsea must be ready.
