Chelsea seeks Club World Cup glory

Blues look to bounce back after Champions League disappointment.

YOKOHAMA: Chelsea and Rafael Benitez go in search for their first piece of silverware this season and hope to win the Fifa Club World Cup a week after becoming the first holders of the Champions League to be knocked out in the group stage.

The club’s Brazilian star Oscar says the bitter memory of a shock semi-final defeat at the Club World Cup two years ago makes him even more determined the lift the trophy this year. The attacking midfielder was on the receiving end of one of the biggest upsets in the history of the intercontinental championships when Brazil’s Internacional lost 2-0 to Democratic Republic of Congo minnows TP Mazembe in the UAE in 2010.

“It was unbelievable at the time, and what made it worse was the fact that we knew we had the quality to win that game,” said Oscar. “It really was a major disappointment.”

Oscar said the experience meant he would be completely focused on beating Mexican side Monterrey in Yokohama today.

Meanwhile, Monterrey coach Victor Vucetich says his side will be powerless to prevent Chelsea from scoring but still believes the Mexicans can pull off their biggest ever win.

“We will look to show our quality,” said Vucetich. “You always want to win the biggest tournaments regardless who your opponents. We want to write a new page in Monterrey’s history.”

Corinthians have made it to the final after defeating Al-Ahly 1-0 at the Toyota Stadium yesterday.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13^th, 2012.