Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo (27) has emphasized that the Blues will not underestimate Benfica as both teams prepare for their FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16 encounter this Saturday.
The match will take place at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, with both sides vying for a chance to progress to the quarter-finals. Chelsea advanced as Group D runners-up, while the Portuguese side caused a stir by defeating Bayern Munich to clinch the top spot in Group C.
Originally, Enzo Maresca’s team was set to face Vincent Kompany’s Bavarian squad, but a surprising loss shifted the matchup, seemingly giving Chelsea a more advantageous competition in their ambition to move forward.
However, Adarabioyo, a former England youth international, dismissed the notion that Benfica would be an easier opponent, asserting they will be treated with the same level of respect as any other team.
“Now we recover, fly to Miami, and prepare for the Benfica match. I wouldn’t say any game is easy.
“You witnessed how challenging it was against Esperance; we only secured a 3-0 victory because we managed to score in injury time of the second half. It was a tightly contested match.
“We cannot underestimate any team, and Benfica will be there to capitalise on our mistakes, so we must be ready for them.”
When questioned about how competing in this tournament has aided Chelsea compared to a typical pre-season, where matches can lack intensity, the former Manchester City and Fulham defender remarked:
“We’re not viewing this as a pre-season. This is another competition altogether, towards the end of a regular season, and it’s a significant tournament that we aim to excel in.”
After a standout period at Fulham, Adarabioyo joined Chelsea as a free agent in 2024, signing a four-year contract. He quickly secured his position in the defence, and his growing influence both on and off the field has established him as a leader within Maresca’s squad.
He spoke about his strong bond with teammate Cole Palmer, noting that the England international was seen applauding and taking photos of Adarabioyo after he was awarded Player of the Match against Esperance at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
“Cole is like one of my mates. He’s like a younger brother to me,” he expressed.
“We share a fantastic relationship and constantly motivate each other. He earned Man of the Match in the Conference League final, and I was there to support him. I bagged Man of the Match (against Esperance), and he was there cheering me on. That’s just the essence of our bond.”
On the significance of such relationships among Chelsea players, he highlighted: “Absolutely. It’s crucial to nurture those connections within the squad.
“When you look at this team, it’s evident that we are all very close and we consider each other like brothers.
“We spend every day together, often more time than with our own families. There’s a genuine brotherhood here.”
The victor of the Chelsea vs. Benfica match will advance to face either Palmeiras or Botafogo for a place in the semi-finals, set to take place at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup serves as an important challenge for the London club ahead of the forthcoming season, as they prepare to participate in the UEFA Champions League following their fourth-place finish in the 2024-25 season.
Additionally, they enter the tournament as the reigning Europa Conference League champions, having come back from a goal down to beat Real Betis 4-1 in the final.
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