Thiago Silva Backs Chelsea In Club World Cup Semi-Final Following Fluminense's Win Over Al-Hilal

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Thiago Silva is hopeful that Chelsea will advance in their quarter-final against Palmeiras, aiming for a potential face-off with his former team, Fluminense, in the Club World Cup semi-finals. Fluminense secured their semi-final spot by defeating Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal 2-1. Martinelli and Hercules scored for Fluminense, with Hercules coming off the bench to regain the lead after Marcos Leonardo's equaliser.

Fluminense has shown strategic depth, with substitutes contributing four of their eight tournament goals. Only Manchester City has more goals from substitutes, with five. The Brazilian team finished second in Group F behind Borussia Dortmund and held firm against Al-Hilal's late attempts to equalise again. This victory sets up a match against either Palmeiras or Chelsea.

Silva expressed his desire to play against Chelsea but acknowledged the challenge they pose. "Now I just need to recover and see the game between Chelsea and Palmeiras," Silva told DAZN. "I'm rooting for Chelsea, of course, but Palmeiras are a big team as well." He noted that his recovery is slow but remains optimistic about Fluminense's progress.

Reflecting on their win over Al-Hilal, Silva shared his pride in the team's performance. "I am very happy and very proud of my team," he said. He highlighted the difficulty of reaching the semi-finals in such a competitive tournament and praised his team's unity throughout the match.

Simone Inzaghi's Al-Hilal struggled to replicate their earlier success against Manchester City. Despite 12 second-half shots aimed at forcing extra time, they couldn't break through Fluminense's solid defence. Inzaghi commended his players' efforts despite external factors affecting their performance.

"I am proud to coach Al-Hilal and proud of all the players in the team," Inzaghi stated. He congratulated them for their impressive display in the Club World Cup and acknowledged external events that impacted their match against Fluminense without elaborating further.

The anticipation builds as Fluminense prepares for their next challenge, with Silva eager to see if Chelsea will be their opponents. The Brazilian side remains focused on advancing further in the tournament while celebrating their achievements so far.