Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca greeted Joao Pedro and expressed his joy in reaching the club World Cup final after the double strike of the new signing had won a 2-0 win over Fluminense in the last four on Tuesday.
“We are very happy and very proud to be in the final on Sunday, because this is the first edition of the Club World Cup and the best clubs in the world are here,” said Maresca.
Joao Pedro started for the first time since arriving from Brighton and Hove Albion for a reported £ 60 million ($ 79 million) last week, fresh from a break out of season.
The Brazilian made an immediate impact in the game in the Metlife Stadium just outside New York.
He produced two excellent Finishes, both sides of the peace, to bring Chelsea to Sunday's final against Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid.
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“I am very happy for Joao. He has the quality to decide games like today, but he was also on vacation, so probably is a little more fresh compared to the rest,” said Maresca about the 23-year-old.
“We knew how Joao was. We brought it in because we came across this season with low blocks with low blocks and his quality is very good against this type of team.”
The striker did not celebrate his goals out of respect for the club of Rio de Janeiro, with whom he started his career before moving Watford to England in 2020.
“When I was young, they gave everything to me, they showed me to the world,” he said after collecting his prize for player of the game.
“If I am here now, it will be because they believe in me, so I am very grateful, but this is football, I have to be professional. I feel sorry for them, but I have to do my job.”
Fluminense 'Heads High'
Chelsea's Run comes to the final of the lucrative competition at the end of a season in which Chelsea celebrated in the Premier League to get a return to the UEFA Champions League. They also won the Conference League.
“In recent years have not been what this club deserves, but luckily this year it went pretty well and now we are in the final,” said the Italian.
“We are very proud to help the team to be back where they deserve to be.”
A possible problem for Chelsea prior to the final is the fitness of Midfield Lynchpin Moises Caicedo, which came out deep in the interruption of the game at the end of the game.
“” Moi “turned his ankle. When it happened, I told him that we could play with 10 players and hope it won't get worse,” said Maresca.
“He felt that he could try (to play) what he hurt and he felt pain. Hopefully he can be fit for Sunday.”
In the meantime, Fluminense coach Renato Portaluppi was disappointed about the exit of his team when the South -American hope to win the competition came to an end.
He said, however, that they were “recovered credibility” for Brazilian football with their run to the semi -final.
“The Fluminense campaign was great, I think we all felt that. We have overcome a number of great opponents,” said the 62-year-old.
“Chelsea earned the victory, but I am very proud of everything we did. We go out with our heads that are held high.”