NEW JERSEY-helsea head coach Enzo Maresca has brushed off concerns over soaring temperatures ahead of his side’s FIFA Club World Cup semi-final against Brazilian champions Fluminense, insisting the team is ready to adapt despite difficult afternoon conditions and a handful of key absentees.
The Blues are set to take on Fluminense at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Tuesday, with kickoff scheduled for 3:00 p.m. local time (1900 GMT). Temperatures are forecast to hover in the mid-30s Celsius, creating a demanding physical environment for both teams.
But Maresca appeared calm when addressing reporters on Monday.
“I don’t think it’s just tomorrow’s game,” the Italian said. “Like other teams, we have already played in different conditions. The game is tomorrow at 3pm and so all we can do is adapt and try to win.”
Chelsea will be without suspended duo Liam Delap and Levi Colwill, while Belgian midfielder Romeo Lavia remains sidelined through injury. However, Maresca will welcome the return of Moises Caicedo from suspension, and striker Nicolas Jackson is available after serving a one-match ban for a red card in the quarter-final victory over Flamengo. Newly signed forward Joao Pedro is also in contention for a starting role.
Tuesday’s encounter marks Chelsea’s third consecutive match against Brazilian opposition at the tournament, having already edged past Flamengo and Palmeiras. Fluminense, the reigning Copa Libertadores champions, are captained by former Chelsea stalwart Thiago Silva and are aiming to cause an upset on familiar soil.
“The first two [Brazilian teams] were very good, with lots and lots of energy,” Maresca observed. “Tomorrow, no doubt, it will be exactly the same.”
Fluminense boss Renato Portaluppi, whose team has captured neutral hearts with their spirited run, acknowledged the uphill battle his players face against the Premier League giants but remained defiantly optimistic.
“We are up against powerful opponents with a financial advantage, but football is decided on the pitch,” said Portaluppi. “Fluminense’s finances do not make 10 percent of those of the other clubs, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get to the final or even win the Club World Cup.”
Tuesday’s semi-final pits European firepower against South American flair, with both sides chasing a coveted place in the final and a shot at global glory. For Chelsea, it’s a chance to reassert their dominance on the world stage. For Fluminense, it’s a mission to defy the odds—and write history.