Fluminense challenges Manchester City in the World Cup final – 12/21/2023 – Sport

It is with respect and even reverence that Fluminense players have been treating Manchester City, their opponent in the Club World Cup final. But it is not in an inferior position that they intend to take the field in the decisive match on Friday (22), at the King Abdullah Sports City, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Although the athletes and coach Fernando Diniz constantly refer to their opponent as the “best team in the world”, the idea is not to repeat the usual strategy of teams that face the European representative in the tournament’s decision. After all, it was not with defensive methods that the tricolor team reached the game.

“We will do our best. We will not deviate from our characteristics. We have prepared a lot. We will try to do our best with a lot of humility, with intelligence and with courage to do what we usually do. Our style of play will be maintained “, stated Diniz.

This style is based on possession of the ball, with players constantly approaching each other. In the 2-0 victory over the Egyptian Al Ahly, in the semifinals, the Laranjeiras team had 55% possession, compared to 33% for the opponent – ​​the ball was up for grabs in the rest of the match, with opportunities for both sides.

The problem is that it is very difficult to have the ball against City, a team that likes to keep it at their feet and press on the attacking field to steal it. In their semifinal duel, a calm 3-0 victory over Urawa Red Diamonds, the English team had 64% possession, compared to 25% for their rival. There were 25 shots made, only two conceded.

“It’s a world title decision. Against one of the best teams in the history of world football and one of the best coaches,” said Diniz, referring to Pep Guardiola. “In football, the first thing you have to have is confidence that you can win. Fluminense will do its utmost to win. We will face the best team in the world, but that doesn’t stop us from dreaming.”

On the other hand, it is also with respectful words that City’s players and their coach have been speaking about their opponent in the final. Guardiola even said that “Fluminense has much more experience in finals” and praised the quality of some of the athletes who won the last Copa Libertadores.

“It’s a Brazilian school. They play very well with the ball, they come together a lot, they have quality players, like André, Ganso. It’s been Brazilian football for a long time. I remember my father talking about the Brazilians, who played well slow, all together, short passes, and at the last moment they took off quickly. It seems like that’s the essence”, said the Catalan coach.

Worried about wear and tear and having the decisive match just three days after the semi-final, he has problems putting together his team, with three certain absences. Midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and strikers Erling Haaland and Jérémy Doku, all starters, were cut from City’s World Cup squad, with different injuries.

Fernando Diniz, it seems, will repeat the lineup used against Al Ahly, the same as when he won the Libertadores. John Kennedy, who came off the bench to define the continental triumph and scored again at the end in the most recent match, will once again be an alternative to be used during the match.

Fluminense will play in its traditional tricolor uniform, and City will play in blue. The referee will be the same one who refereed the Rio team’s triumph over Al Ahly, the Polish Szymon Marciniak. He is prestigious in FIFA (International Football Federation) and refereed the decision of the last World Cup.

Manchester City x Fluminense

3pm, at King Abdullah Sports City, in Jeddah (ARA)
On TV: Globo, CazéTV, ge, Globoplay and Fifa+