We all know that even though the Club World Cup doesn’t mean much to European sides, the title is worth a lot for teams from the rest of the world.
That’s why Corinthians’ 1-0 win over Chelsea in 2012 is often remembered by players and fans, and was a subject in an interview which former defender Chicão gave to ESPN this week.
Recalling that game in Yokohama, he claims that the Brazilian side saw some arrogance coming from the Europeans, and felt like he needed to show their strength early in the game. To accomplish that, he made a hard tackle on Eden Hazard.
“I got to Hazard right at the beginning. I thought: ‘I need to impose myself so they understand that there’s a team here too”, Chicão told ESPN (via Yahoo).
“On the way up to the locker room, I felt a little bit of arrogance, that look from above, no one greeted anyone. I thought: ‘Football is in there, 11 against 11, whoever can do more, cries less”
“The first ball, I already put Hazard up. There’s no such thing as holding hands, getting him up. I learned that, with that attitude of mine, I transmit to other athletes that I want to win. From that moment, from that tackle, a lot changed.”
Corinthians won that final 1-0, with a goal scored by Paolo Guerreiro.
That was the last time a Brazilian side won the Club World Cup, as all following tournaments were then won by Europeans.
Now as Chelsea are taking part in the next edition following their Champions League title, they could face a Brazilian side again, as Palmeiras and Flamengo are playing the Copa Libertadores final next week.
