Corinthians coach Tite has revealed that he does not fear any team ahead of the Fifa Club World Cup in Japan later this month.
Tite, 51, takes his Copa Libertadores champions to Japan under the expectation they will face Chelsea in the final on 16th December in Yokohama. But this is a tournament that has the possibility to spring a surprise, as fellow Brazilian side Internacional found out in 2010 when they were knocked out by TP Mazembe Englebert of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“If I were afraid of something, I would not be a football coach,” Tite told Globo Esporte.
“You get exposed to wins and losses, several times you’re the guy who … (Wins or loses).”
Corinthians will face one of Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Japanese champions, Al-Ahly of Egypt, African champions, or Auckland City, New Zealand, the Oceania representative. And they are leaving no stone unturned in their preparations.
“Hiroshima plays a 3-6-1 with two spiky wingers trying to score. They are good in transition with speed.
“Al-Ahly has two rows of four, with two attackers. It is a team with strength, enforcement.
“On Auckland we do not have much information, but I’ll have more time to see them when we get to Japan.”
Corinthians will go straight into the semi-final of the tournament against one of those three teams, and the fixture will take place on 12th December in Toyota.
