Maresca Praises Chelsea Resilience in Fluminense Victory
Chelsea Beat Fluminense to Reach Club World Cup Final
New Jersey, USA – Chelsea secured their place in the FIFA Club World Cup final with a 2-0 clinical victory over Fluminense in trying conditions at MetLife Stadium. The Blues will face either Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid in Sunday’s final showdown.
Maresca Praises Team’s Professionalism
Coach Enzo Maresca was satisfied with how his team played, particularly their ability to adapt both to Fluminense’s playing style and to the adverse conditions of play.
“We’re very pleased to be in the final,” Maresca said. “This is a competition of the world’s best clubs, so to be battling for the trophy on Sunday is something to be proud of.”
The Italian tactician highlighted his team’s tactical flexibility: “We started with one approach, they made adjustments, and we responded well. The players managed all aspects of the game – the opposition, the conditions – in an excellent manner.”
Regarding the sweltering heat, Maresca acknowledged: “We maintained a good tempo when possible, though the weather made it impossible to sustain for the full match. The players’ application was first-class.”
João Pedro Makes Instant Impression
Chelsea new £60 million signing João Pedro made his presence felt in style with a double on his first full Chelsea outing:
18th minute: Scored on Chelsea debut with a nice 20-yard curler from the outside of his right boot into the far corner
55th minute: Doubled the lead with a powerful shot that smacked off underside of crossbar
JOÃO PEDRO AGAIN ‼️
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 8, 2025
HIS 2ND GOAL TO PUT CHELSEA UP 2-0 🔥 pic.twitter.com/THNxDeFAcN
Brazilian’s performance had extra significance on the day Chelsea went to Fluminense, where he initially started playing professionally, indicating exactly why Chelsea worked so hard to bring him in during the transfer window.
Caicedo Injury Concern
The only dampener on Chelsea’s performance was midfielder Moises Caicedo coming off the field with an ankle injury. The Ecuadorian attempted to continue after he had been treated but was ultimately substituted.
Maresca will be hoping his star midfielder recovers for Sunday’s final, where Chelsea will need to employ every trick in the book against either PSG’s attacking firepower or Real Madrid’s battle-hardened team.
Before the Final
The championship game is expected to be a significant occasion, with former U.S. President Donald Trump on the list of guest invited to MetLife Stadium. Chelsea will be hoping to:
Win their first Club World Cup title
Maintain their terrific start under Maresca’s leadership
Defeat one of the European football powerhouses
Match Statistics
Possession: Chelsea 58% – Fluminense 42%
Shots on target: Chelsea 5 – Fluminense 2
Key passes: João Pedro led all players with 3
Fan Perspectives
The fans have been impressed with the immediate contribution of João Pedro, but there are concerns about Caicedo’s fitness for the final.
Chelsea demonstrated their mettle in adversity to secure a place in Sunday’s blockbuster finale. The match is an early opportunity at silverware in the Maresca era and a chance to demonstrate themselves to be world champions.
Maresca Praises Chelsea Resilience in Fluminense Victory
