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Coming to the US with a mere 0.05% chance of winning the championship according to the calculations of the supercomputer Opta, Fluminense were initially assessed to be eliminated early in the group stage. But the representative from Rio de Janeiro made the whole football world look back: finishing second in Group F, holding both Borussia Dortmund and Mamelodi Sundowns, before overcoming Ulsan Hyundai to secure a ticket to the knockout round.
Under the guidance of coach Renato Gaucho (62 years old), who is famous for his free-spirited style and explosive instructions from the touchline, Fluminense has transformed dramatically. From being considered a "bottom team", they have become real challengers, successively eliminating Champions League runner-up Inter Milan in the round of 16 and then defeating Al-Hilal in the quarter-finals.
“When I say we are the ugly duckling, with all due respect to the other teams, I am talking about the financial situation,” Renato said. “Fluminense have only about 10% of the financial resources of the big clubs. They have all the conditions to recruit top players.”
Despite the huge gap in potential, Renato believes that it is the attitude and focus that make the difference for Fluminense.
“What brought Fluminense to the semi-finals was the attitude of the players on the pitch, the concentration, fighting spirit and the constant effort of the whole team,” he said.
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Before the semi-final match with Chelsea, the veteran coach called the confrontation at MetLife Stadium (New Jersey) "a game of chess", where victory will belong to the team with better organization, discipline and tactics.
“It will be a game of patience. We will be cautious,” Renato stressed. “Ball possession will be very important, especially when the game starts at 3pm, which is a very hot time. If you keep chasing the opponent and don’t have the ball, you will quickly get exhausted.”
“We have a lot of respect for Chelsea, but this is a real game of chess. In my opinion, it will be a very tight game, with few chances to score, and the team that exploits the chances better will be the winner,” the 62-year-old coach affirmed.
Coach Renato also said that Fluminense will try to neutralize Chelsea's explosive players, while trying to control the ball and maintain their strong style of play, hoping to continue their fairytale journey in the heart of America.
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Source: https://tienphong.vn/doi-dau-chelsea-hlv-fluminense-chung-toi-chong-lai-ca-the-gioi-post1758492.tpo
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