Renato Portaluppi described Fluminense as the "ugly ducklings" of the Club World Cup, but believes they can achieve victory. Preparing for their semi-final against Chelsea, Fluminense advanced after finishing second in their group and defeating Inter Miami and Al-Hilal. The team boasts an 11-match unbeaten streak but faces challenges against strong opponents. Their past matches against English teams include a significant loss to Manchester City. Portaluppi encourages belief in the team's potential to overcome financial disadvantages and succeed on the pitch.
"It is a privilege to be coaching this team, and we are here to make history. We need to believe. We are up against powerful opponents with a financial advantage, but football is decided on the pitch so we need to keep that in mind."
Fluminense finished second behind Borussia Dortmund in Group F, going on to knock out Lionel Messi's Inter Miami and Al-Hilal to reach this stage of the competition. Their 2-1 win over Al-Hilal in the quarter-final extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 11 matches (W8 D3).
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