FLAMENGO BEGIN their Club World Cup campaign against Al Hilal in Tuesday’s semi-final, with coach Jorge Jesus convinced they will prove themselves to be a better team than tournament favourites Liverpool.
Jesus — who coached Al Hilal until January this year — has overseen a wonderful few months for Flamengo since being appointed in June, guiding them to success in the Brasileiro and Copa Libertadores, which booked their place in the Club World Cup, adding to their Campeonato Carioca success prior to the Portuguese boss’ arrival.
Flamengo lifted the Libertadores trophy for only the second time in their history thanks to a dramatic 2-1 win over defending champions River Plate last month — star striker Gabriel Barbosa netting twice in the final minutes of the match having crushed fellow Brazilians Gremio 6-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals.
The Rubro-Negro are generally seen as the only credible threat to European champions Liverpool, even if most expect Jurgen Klopp’s men to have little trouble bringing the trophy back to Anfield.
But, ahead of Flamengo’s semi-final clash with AFC Champions League winners Al Hilal, Jesus has his focus firmly on Liverpool.
“For everyone else, Liverpool are better [than Flamengo],” Jesus told TV Globo.
“And I believe the best will be Flamengo, but it’s the hardest title we’ll ever play.”
Al Hilal head into Tuesday’s clash in strong form having won each of their past five matches across all competitions, including Saturday’s 1-0 victory over ES Tunis in their first 2019 Club World Cup match.