Ancelotti: Brazilian Clubs Compete with European Giants, Chelsea Champion

Ancelotti Highlights the Potential of Brazilian Football in the Club World Cup

The Brazilian coach, Carlo Ancelotti, has expressed his satisfaction with the performance of Brazilian clubs in the recent FIFA Club World Cup, highlighting their ability to compete with the most outstanding European teams. “Fluminense had a great campaign, reaching the semi-finals, and Botafogo beat PSG, but Palmeiras and Flamengo also showed that they can compete with the best European teams.” In statements offered to the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), the Italian coach praised the performance of the Brazilian teams, especially Fluminense, Botafogo, Palmeiras and Flamengo. Ancelotti also highlighted the individual performance of some players, such as Estêvão from Palmeiras, who will soon join Chelsea, and forwards João Pedro and Andrey Santos, also from Chelsea.

The coach also acknowledged that Chelsea were the deserved winners of the tournament due to their consistency throughout the competition. Additionally, Ancelotti celebrated the return of Éder Militão, Real Madrid defender, after his recovery from an injury. Ancelotti, who witnessed the semi-finals and the final in the United States, also analyzed the impact of the climate on the tournament, noting that the extreme heat influenced the pace of the game. The coach debuted last June as the coach of the five-time world champion with a goalless draw in Ecuador and a narrow home victory against Paraguay that allowed the Canarinha to qualify in advance for the 2026 World Cup.