Enzo Maresca, the Chelsea manager, has praised Joao Pedro and has said he is thrilled to have reached the Club World Cup final following the new signing scoring a brace to take them past Fluminense into the final in the semi-final on Tuesday.
Since this is the first Club World Cup and the top clubs from around the globe are participating, we are thrilled and honoured to be in the final on Sunday, the Italian said.
Joao Pedro Shines on Chelsea Debut
Joao Pedro was making his first appearance since joining Brighton & Hove Albion last week on a reported 60 million pound fee, after an off-season vacation.
In the match at MetLife Stadium, which is just outside of NY, the Brazilian had an instant impact.
Pedro’s Magnificent Brace Sends Blues Through
He scored 2 magnificent goals, 1 before and 1 after halftime, to send Chelsea into Sun final against PSG or Real Madrid.
Maresca Praises Pedro’s Impact and Freshness
I am so pleased with Joao. He has the ability to win games like today but also he was on holiday and is likely to be a bit fresher than the others, Maresca said of the 23-year-old.
We knew Joao well. We signed him because he is excellent against teams with low blocks, which is what we had to play against this season.
Pedro’s Respectful Response After Scoring Against Fluminense
The forward refused to celebrate his goals in honor of the club of Rio de Janeiro, where he began his career and transferred to England in 2020 with Watford.
After winning the man of the match award, he remarked, They gave me everything when I was young, they took me to the world.
I am grateful that they trusted me enough to bring me here today, but I have to act professionally because this is football. I feel sorry for them, but I have a duty to fulfil.
Quick Integration and Team News
Pedro came off the bench in Chelsea 2-1 quarter-final victory against Palmeiras on Friday after just two training sessions. On the 4th day, he was in the starting team.
The suspended players Levi Colwill and Liam Delap were not available for Chelsea, but midfield lynchpin Moises Caicedo made a comeback after missing the team’s victory over Palmeiras in Philadelphia because of a ban.
In a game that was watched by 70,556 people on a hot afternoon, the Blues were just too strong for their opponents.
Blues’ Season Journey to the FIFA Club World Cup Final
Chelsea’s journey to the prestigious competition’s final follows a season in which they secured a return to the UEFA Champions League by finishing fourth in the Premier League. The Conference League was also won by them.
This club hasn’t deserved it in the past few years, but fortunately, this year went quite well, and we are now in the final, Maresca said.
We take great pride in assisting the club return to its deserved place.
Caicedo Injury Concern for Chelsea
Caicedo’s fitness is a potential concern for Chelsea ahead of the final, as he was substituted out late in stoppage time.
His ankle was twisted by “Moi.” I told him we could play with ten players and hoped it wouldn’t get worse when it happened, Maresca said.
He thought he could try (play on), and when he did, he experienced pain. I’m hoping he’ll be well enough for Sunday.
Fluminense Reaction: Pride Despite Defeat
Coach Renato Portaluppi was disappointed by Fluminense’s elimination, which put an end to the South American team’s chances of winning the tournament.
However, he asserted that they had ‘regained credibility’ for Brazilian football after their run to the semifinals.
I believe we all thought Fluminense’s campaign was fantastic. We defeated some formidable foes, the 62-year-old remarked.
“I am really proud of everything we accomplished, but Chelsea deserved the victory. We hold our heads high as we leave.
Holabet News – trusted online betting site Singapore. Your winning journey starts here! Register Now!
