Esperance coach Kanzari: "We aren't afraid of Chelsea...Belaïli suspension can benefit us"
- Hossam Ahmed
- Jun 24
- 2 min read
Esperance Sportive de Tunis manager Maher Kanzari delivered bold statements ahead of his side’s crucial encounter against English giants Chelsea in the third round of the FIFA Club World Cup group stage.
Speaking to DAZN, Kanzari expressed bravery as his team prepares for one of the biggest tests of their campaign.
“We aren't afraid of facing Chelsea. Why should we be scared? It’s just a football match, and everyone here is excited to be part of this tournament,” said Kanzari as quoted by Almasryalyoum.
“Espérance is a big team, and Chelsea is also a big team. Of course, they are somewhat better than us on paper, but in football, anything is possible. We are not afraid, and we are playing to deliver a good performance and maintain our current image.”
Kanzari also emphasized that the Club World Cup is not the only goal for the Tunisian giants.
“The Club World Cup is a big challenge for every player and every coach. I’m here for many reasons, not just for this tournament. Of course, we have other objectives as well.”
On Belaili’s Suspension
Espérance will be without star player Youcef Belaïli, who is suspended due to yellow card accumulation. Speaking about his absence, Kanzari said as quoted by Al-Ain:
“Belaili’s absence is unfortunate. Everyone knows he is a key player in our team, and we’re forced to adapt to this situation. We’ve played without Youcef Belaili before, and we’ll do it again, aiming for a positive result.”
“Belaili is a great player. He’s capable of doing a lot, especially in terms of creating chances. Even from a dead ball, he can produce something special.”
“It’s true that his absence is significant, but it can also be beneficial for us in other ways. We will work on turning this absence into something positive for the team.”
Group Standings (2 matches played)
Points | GD | |
Flamengo | 6 | +4 |
Chelsea | 3 | 0 |
Espérance | 3 | -1 |
Los Angeles FC | 0 | -3 |
Espérance currently sit third in Group D with 3 points — level with second-placed Chelsea and three points behind leaders Flamengo. A win over the English side is essential for the Tunisian champions to reach the Round of 16, as Chelsea hold the advantage in the tiebreaker if there is a draw.
