Jamie Carragher has taken a swipe at the new Club World Cup format. In particular, he can’t comprehend FIFA’s decision to include Chelsea in the upcoming summer tournament.
Chelsea don’t have much time to rest because they will soon be competing in the Club World Cup competition, which runs from mid-June to mid-July.
The new-look tournament has been expanded to 32 teams and will take place every four years. In 2025, the United States will host the updated cup competition.
Chelsea will take the Club World Cup very seriously because of the financial implications that come from winning it. Hopefully, the Blues’ young group go into it with momentum and confidence after winning the Conference League in May.
Jamie Carragher questions Chelsea’s inclusion in the Club World Cup
Jamie Carragher appears to disagree with FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup tournament, especially when Chelsea’s inclusion comes because they won the Champions League in 2021.
Carragher told The Overlap: “Chelsea are in this for something they did four years ago… The thing I can’t get my head around is it’s every four years. Every year the South Americans would play the European champions, and it was on the back of what you did last year…
“The reason [Chelsea] are in it is because you won the Champions League four years ago. How many players or manager are still the same? It just feels weird to me. This team is in the Club World Cup because of this team here, and none of them are playing for the club.”
Regardless of Chelsea’s route into the tournament, the current squad can just focus on competing to try and win it.
Enzo Maresca’s side may come up against European giants such as Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain if they go deep into the tournament. First of all, they need to qualify from a group that tests them against Leon, Flamengo and ES Tunis.
John Terry is “excited” about the Club World Cup and the Blues’ inclusion this summer.
Chelsea won the Club World Cup in 2021 when they beat Palmeiras 2-1 in the final. However, that was when it was a seven-team tournament compared to 2025, when 32 teams are competing for the trophy.
Huge summer for Andrey Santos
Even if some people are sceptical about the revamped Club World Cup tournament, it could deliver a great opportunity for certain individuals at Chelsea to impress head coach Maresca.
Andrey Santos, 21, is definitely a Blues player who should be taking the summer very seriously.
Chelsea will take Santos to the Club World Cup after the Brazilian youngster’s superb loan spell with Strasbourg last year, where he proved himself as a complete central midfielder.
It’s going to be extremely difficult to break into the midfield at Stamford Bridge because of current stars such as Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo. However, we’re extremely excited to see what Santos can bring to the mix, starting with involvement at the Club World Cup.
