Roman Abramovich is in attendance at Mohammed Bin Zayed stadium to see if Chelsea can become world champions for the first time this evening.
The owner arrived in Abu Dhabi today, hot off the heels of Thomas Tuchel’s dash to the emirate yesterday having recovered from Covid-19, ahead of the game against Palmeiras. Abramovich could be seen posing for photos in the VIP section.
He attended both the men's and women's Champions League final and watched his first game at Stamford Bridge for three years in November, the draw with Manchester United.
Despite a perception of unimportance in England dating decades, Chelsea are determined to win the Club World Cup.
It is the only trophy to have eluded them since Abramovich bought the club 19 years ago and the loss of 2012, to Corinthians in Yokohama, has been described as a regret by now technical adviser Petr Cech and captain Cesar Azpilicueta.
There is added meaning for Brazil defender Thiago Silva, while Mateo Kovacic will be aiming to win this competition for a third time.
Jorginho, who already has the rare distinction of being a reigning European champion in club and international football, has even more riding on it after revealing yesterday that he was rejected by Palmeiras as a 12-year-old.
“Let me tell you something not a lot of people know,” he said at yesterday’s pre-match press conference. “The connection I have with Palmeiras is that I trialled for the team when I was 12 and did not make the team.
“That is the only memory I have of Palmeiras. That is what football is like. We are here 18 years later to compete at a club World Cup final against Palmerias and it is crazy and also why football is so beautiful. Everything happens for a reason. Maybe it was better this way.”
