Jorge Jesus feels confident that Flamengo will beat Liverpool to win this years the Club World Cup, but first they face the team he previously coached, Al Hilal.
Flamengo begin their Club World Cup campaign tomorrow, meeting Saudi Arabia outfit Al-Hilal in the first semi-final. Fla coach Jorge Jesus is convinced that his side will ultimately prove themselves to be a better team than the bookies' favourites Liverpool.
Jesus, whose six-month spell coaching Al-Hilal ended in January of 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 - the latter earning them their place in this 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 Grêmio 6-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals.
Flamengo's sights already set on Liverpool
The Rubro-Negro are generally seen as the only credible threat to European champions Liverpool, even if most expect Jürgen 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. "What counts the most is for me. Others may think Liverpool are better, but if we get to the final we will see who is better. And I believe the best will be Flamengo, but it's the hardest title we'll ever play."