Chelsea skipper Reece James has set up the Blues to win before Friday’s Club World Cup quarter-final against Palmeiras in Philadelphia. The English centre-back praised the Brazilian giants but was not modest.
Speaking to the press ahead of the game, he said:
“They’re amazing players and a good side. We’re going to set out to win.
”We have confidence in what our goals are going into the game, how we want to play, our structure, defensively and offensively. I think that’s more important to us. We have our structure right and we’ll achieve what we want to achieve.”
Chelsea’s streak has already tested their resolve. A loss in the group stage to Flamengo left them in second place and required a trip from Miami to Charlotte for their last-16 match, and now they are headed to Philadelphia. Piled atop the burning U.S. summer sun, this brutal regimen of non-stop traveling is putting fitness and strategy to the test.
Meanwhile, Palmeiras defeated Botafogo in a gritty extra-time display by Paulinho. The Brazilian clubs have added enormous fan fervor to the tournament, filling American pitches with cauldrons of color and noise—an environment the Blues will have to be ready for.
Friday’s game also carries the specter of history. Chelsea beat Palmeiras in the 2021 Club World Cup final, and the Brazilians will be keen to turn the tables. The Blues will attempt to impose their form again with James at the front of a side desperate to go further on the road towards another world title. However, the heat and passionate Palmeiras fans will make them work to the very limit.
Chelsea Got Past Benfica to Reach the Quarter-finals
The Blues will need to turn their attention to their test against Palmeiras after a dramatic 4-1 extra-time victory over Benfica in the round of 16.
They took the lead through James in the 65th minute, but a long weather delay pushed the game back by nearly two hours. It allowed Benfica to regroup and level the match with an Angel di Maria penalty.
Chelsea eventually benefited from a red card issued to Gianluca Prestianni, scoring three goals in extra time to claim their place in the next round. Manager Enzo Maresca had no hesitation in his assessment of the two-hour delay, labeling it “a joke.” However, he was delighted to see his men maintain their cool under extreme weather conditions.