‘European teams are always favourites’: Al Hilal boss Leonardo Jardim hits out at FIFA for scheduling of Club World Cup as he insists Champions League winners are always given an ‘unfair’ advantage ahead of clash with Chelsea
- Chelsea are set to face Al Hilal in the Club World Cup semi finals on Wednesday
- Al Hilal boss Leonardo Jardim has hit out at FIFA for the tournament’s scheduling
- The former Monaco head coach has said the setup favours European sides
Leonardo Jardim has hit out FIFA for favouring European teams at the Club World Cup.
The Al Hilal boss has insisted tournament organisers FIFA have handed Chelsea a scheduling advantage for the competition in Abu Dhabi.
The Blues will take on the Saudi champions at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium on Wednesday night, entering the competition at the semi-final stage.
Leonardo Jardim has hit out FIFA for favouring European teams at the Club World Cup
Al Hilal cruised past local outfit Al Jazira 6-1 in the second round, with former Monaco manager Jardim unimpressed by the tournament’s structure.
‘I’d like to give a warning to FIFA and I find it unfair some teams have to play four matches in eight days and other teams have to play two matches with their teams not rested,’ said Jardim.
‘There should be better care with the match schedule to recover so teams from Asia and South America can have ambition to win this cup.’
Jardim is under no illusions that Champions League winners Chelsea are the favourites to lift the Club World Cup, but remained adamant that different scheduling would alter the contest’s complexion.
‘I’m sure that the European teams, in this case Chelsea and previously Liverpool, are always the favourites,’ said Jardim.
The Blues take on the Saudi champions at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium on Wednesday
‘No doubt about that but we have additional favouritism when Al Hilal has two days to recover and the 24 players are all the same, but one team comes out fresh.
‘Our victory from the previous match mirrors that: Al Jazira had difficulties in the second half.
‘If they were rested the match would have been different I think, especially in the second half.’