Chelsea Set Sights On First Club World Cup Title

 

Chelsea Set Sights On First Club World Cup Title

Chelsea’s Brazilian defender Thiago Silva (3L) celebrates with his teammates and supporters after scoring the second goal during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge in London on January 23, 2022. AFP

 

Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel will attempt to lead Chelsea to more silverware and a first Club World Cup title as the seven-team competition kicks off Thursday in Abu Dhabi.

The European champions fly out to the UAE following Saturday’s FA Cup tie against third-tier Plymouth, and are aiming to become the third English club to win the trophy after Manchester United and Liverpool.

“I have to say once you are in it you are pretty excited,” Tuchel told the Chelsea website.

“Once you are not in it, it is a competition that has not the highest focus and highest value. It seems like this in Europe, or only for me.

“But once you are in it and you start planning it and you see it coming on the horizon is it quite exciting.”

Tuchel guided Chelsea to a 1-0 victory over Manchester City in last season’s Champions League final. The Blues then edged Villarreal on penalties to claim the UEFA Super Cup in August.

Chelsea return to the Club World Cup for a second time having finished as runners-up to Corinthians in 2012 in Japan — the last time a team from outside Europe won the trophy.

They will play Asian Champions League winners Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia, local side Al Jazira or Tahiti’s AS Pirae in the semi-finals here on February 9.

“It is a big opportunity to win an extraordinary trophy which is far from daily business and that is why we will do anything to take the chance to make it happen,” said Tuchel.