Chelsea and Palmeiras play in the final the title that they lack

Helsea and Palmeiras meet today in Abu Dhabi in the final of the Club World Cup, the title that is missing from their record. European football has won the last 8 editions since Corinthians, in 2012, precisely beat Chelsea, led by Rafa Benítez, in Yokohama (1-0).

The current Champions League champion does not want history to repeat itself against another Brazilian rival, a Palmeiras team that has won the last two editions of the Copa Libertadores.

Tuchel, already in the Emirates pending the PCR

Hours before the final, Chelsea, who in the ‘semis’ left doubts against the Saudi Al Hilal (1-0), received news that will reinforce their morale: their coach Thomas Tuchel, absent on Wednesday due to Covid-19, traveled yesterday from London and is awaiting the result of the PCR upon arrival in Abu Dhabi to sit on the bench today.

If César Azpilicueta is the survivor of that lost final in 2012, Tuchel must decide whether to keep Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal or instead Ëdouard Mendy returns to the starting lineup after winning the Africa Cup with Senegal on Sunday.

Abel Ferreira, the Palmeiras coach, in yesterday’s training

Abel Ferreira, from ‘yes you can’ to ‘zasca’ to Guardiola

Abel Ferreira, the Portuguese coach of a Palmeiras team that beat the Egyptian Al Ahly (2-0) on Tuesday in the semifinals, subscribed yesterday to the ‘yes we can’. “That’s why football is magical. You can win against anyone. Everyone was betting on Manchester City in the Champions League final and Chelsea won. Therefore, of course you can,” he insisted.

Abel Ferreira also remembered his admired Pep Guardiola. “I invite you to watch the game and get to know Palmeiras,” he said after the lapse of his City colleague, who mistakenly claimed on Thursday that River Plate was the current Copa Libertadores champion.