Chelsea accused of being handed unfair advantage by Al Hilal boss Leonardo Jardim
According to the Evening Standard, speaking ahead of his side’s semi-final clash in the FIFA Club World Cup, Al Hilal manager Leonardo Jardim accused FIFA of handing Chelsea an unfair advantage in the competition by handing them a bye until the semifinal stage, unlike the other teams.
The FIFA Club World Cup is considered to be the premier global club football competition, with reigning continental champions from across the world taking part in a worldwide tournament to win the title. It follows a peculiar format, with the competition allowing the winners of the Copa Libertadores and the UEFA Champions League to directly progress to the semi-finals, while other teams battle it out in play-off fixtures and quarter-final rounds.
Jardim hit out at FIFA for giving European clubs an advantage in this regard, as his own side had very few rest days in order to prepare for the game while Chelsea come in fresh for the semi-final fixture.
“I am sure the European teams and in this case Chelsea – it was Liverpool in the past and others – are favourites but we have additional favouritism when Al Hilal has two days to recover and we have the same 24 players and one team is coming out fresh.”
Chelsea head into the Club World Cup semi-final on the back of a 2-1 FA Cup win over League One side Plymouth Argyle, stretching the game to extra-time to scrap a precious win that takes them into the fifth round of the domestic competition.
Unfair advantage
Jardim made a fair point with his complaints about the way the tournament was structured, as his side had to come through a quarter-final to qualify for the game against Chelsea. The English club meanwhile, face their first opponents in the competition in Al Hilal. The former Monaco manager believed that teams from Asia and South America should be given more chances to win the Cup, as European sides have a massive advantage compared to the other teams.
The Al Hilal boss sent a warning to FIFA about the way other clubs were treated, with some clubs having to manage an intense playing schedule to go up against European elite who hardly suffer the same problems.
“This is a warning to FIFA. We have the best clubs in the world here, but it is unfair some teams have to play four matches in eight days and other teams can rest and only play two. Their teams are rested. I do not think that is fair.”
Neutral football fans may side with Jardim over his comments about FIFA offering clubs from Europe an advantage, giving them an almost direct route to the trophy while other clubs battle it out in multiple rounds. The advantage cannot be disputed, with the European representatives coming out on top in 13 of the 17 editions of the Club World Cup so far.
Chelsea can be seen as an exception to the above statement, with the club narrowly losing the Club World Cup final to Corinthians in 2012. However, it cannot be disputed that the Blues were the favourites heading into the clash.
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Chelsea fans could view the former Monaco man’s comments as mind games before their semi-final clash, trying to get into the Blues’ players’ heads. The London side are no doubt the favourites heading to Wednesday’s game though, against a side that sit fourth in the Saudi Pro League.
All eyes will be on Jardim and his players as they look to cause an upset and knock out the defending European champions. Chelsea meanwhile, will be looking to shake off their 2012 final loss and win the trophy this time around.