“We will make sure…” – Chelsea star previews tough game against Palmeiras | OneFootball

Chelsea are through to the quarter finals of the Club World Cup, and any remaining skeptics have largely been converted at this point.

From now we play only really good teams, with a lot at stake, and our first XI on the pitch. It’s hard to not be interested.

The players are too, at least according to midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who spoke to the club’s official website today:

“It’s exciting. We’re going back to where we were based at the start of the tournament [in Philadelphia], and we’re in the knockouts. Every game is a must-win and the lads are motivated.

“You should go into every game wanting to win and whether you’re in the group stage or the knockout stage, it’s the same feeling. Obviously, the further you go, the closer you are to getting to the final. The feeling in the camp is to take it game by game and then, before you know it, we could be in a great position.”

How Blues players coped with crazy storm game

Chelsea celebrate a goal against Benfica. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

Chelsea’s route here had some tricky moments, not least the 90 minute storm delay on Friday night between teh 85th and 86th minutes against Benfica. It was bizarre to watch, and even stranger to be a part of:

“It was the first time I have ever started a game at 4pm and finished it at 9pm! It was crazy, a really weird situation. But it felt nice that even though we were waiting in the changing room for two hours, we came out and eventually got the job done.

Chelsea not taking Palmeiras lightly

Perhaps because of the context of all that, the celebrations after our extra time win were wild. But the players are well aware that the job isn’t done yet, and tomorrow night’s game will be tough:

“Nobody is overlooking Palmeiras and we have seen South American teams in this tournament have been really strong. It’s a challenge I’m looking forward to, and the lads are also looking forward to. So we will make sure we’re all ready for it.”