Fluminense head coach Renato Gaucho has expressed his concerns ahead of the highly anticipated 2025 FIFA Club World Cup showdown against Mamelodi Sundowns.
The two sides are set to clash on Wednesday evening at the Hard Rock Stadium in Florida in their final Group F fixture of the tournament.
Masandawana opened their campaign with a victory over South Korean side Ulsan HD FC, followed by a spirited performance in a narrow 4-3 loss to German giants Borussia Dortmund.
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Fluminense, meanwhile, earned a draw against Dortmund before convincingly defeating Ulsan in their opening two matches. A draw or a win will be enough for the Brazilian club to secure a place in the Round of 16, while the South African champions must claim all three points to advance.
Although Gaucho remains confident in his squad’s ability to outwit Miguel Cardoso’s star-studded team, he acknowledged that Fluminense faces a stern test against the Betway Premiership outfit.
The coach emphasised the intensity of the upcoming encounter, stressing that his team will need to be at their best to overcome a well-organized and confident Sundowns side.
"A difficult, very dangerous game, we will prepare in the same way we have prepared since we arrived," Gaucho told Terra Brasil as quoted by Pan Africa Football.
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"We have to be as careful as we were against Borussia. Without the ball, we will take defensive precautions. With the ball, we will play and look for the goal.
"We respect our opponents, but we know our potential. We will try to neutralize their main plays, but we will play looking for the goal."
Photo Cred: Sundowns
