Chelsea Advances to Round of 16 in Club World Cup
Enzo Maresca, the manager of Chelsea, expressed that the team’s advancement to the round of 16 in the Club World Cup should be a point of pride, especially in light of Atlético Madrid’s recent elimination from the tournament. Chelsea’s path to this stage was secured through a convincing 3-0 victory over Esperance de Tunis, with goals coming from Tosin Adarabioyo, Liam Delap, and Tyrique George, who came on as a substitute. This win placed them second in Group D, setting them up for a clash against Benfica in Charlotte this Saturday.
Significance of the Achievement
Maresca highlighted the significance of reaching this point in a competition that features 32 teams, emphasizing the stature of clubs like Atlético Madrid, who are perennial Champions League contenders yet fell short in this tournament.
“We should take pride in making it to the last 16,”
he remarked, pointing out the competitive nature of the group that included prominent teams such as Paris Saint-Germain and Botafogo.
Goals for Advancement
He set a new goal for his side, aiming to advance further into the top eight of the tournament after securing a spot in the next round. Additionally, Maresca noted the performance of Liam Delap, who scored his first goal since transferring to Chelsea from Ipswich Town for £30 million. He is optimistic about Delap’s integration into the team, stating,
“We expect his adaptation to happen quickly because he is familiar with our style of play.”
Preparation for Knockout Phase
On the topic of squad changes as Chelsea prepares for the knockout phase, Maresca confirmed that there would be no alterations despite the Club World Cup rules allowing the addition of two new players. While Wesley Fofana is back in training after undergoing hamstring surgery in April, Maresca clarified that Fofana is not yet ready to rejoin the squad for matches. He concluded that there are no immediate plans to recruit additional players ahead of their upcoming challenges.
