Why Chelsea's progress under Enzo Maresca has encouraged hopes they can win the Club World Cup

It will take a few more drops of blood and gallons of sweat in the blazing US sunshine, but Chelsea are in touching distance of reaching the final of the FIFA Club World Cup.

Enzo Maresca’s side face Fluminense at MetLife Stadium on Tuesday in the first semi-final of the revamped competition, where every game is free to watch live on DAZN and the eventual winners will pocket over a staggering £90million.

The Italian’s young team have certainly impressed during their time Stateside, finishing second in Group D before dispatching Benfica and Palmeiras in the knockout stages.

Chelsea vs. Palmeiras | FIFA Club World Cup Extended Highlights

Do not underestimate the job that Maresca has performed since being appointed Chelsea manager last summer.

In his first season in charge, he took them to Conference League glory and qualified for the Champions League.

So far, Chelsea have already banked over £60million by reaching the semi-finals of the biggest and most lucrative Club World Cup to date.

Do not overlook that either.

Now Maresca is plotting a route past a Fluminense side who have proved they are no mugs by beating Inter Milan and Al Hilal en-route to facing Chelsea in the last four.

It is a difficult match to predict but, regardless of the outcome, it is clear that the Blues are evolving nicely on Maresca’s watch.

The club’s finance director would certainly attest to that.

Their progress at the Club World Cup means they have already trousered double the £30milion they paid Ipswich Town for Liam Delap ahead of the tournament.

Delap has impressed in his first five appearances in a Chelsea jersey, scoring his first goal for them in a 3-0 win over Es Tunis, but suspension rules him out of the Fluminense clash.

Nevertheless, the 22-year-old could prove the fulcrum for the new chapter being patiently written at Stamford Bridge by Maresca.

Delap appears to have the right mentality to thrive in a team flooded with youthful promise.

Maresca worked with Delap and Cole Palmer during his time coaching at Manchester City, where he was an assistant to Pep Guardiola.

He proved his pedigree as a manager by guiding Leicester City to the Premier League as Championship winners in 2023-24 before taking on the challenge as Mauricio Pochettino’s successor at Chelsea.

The 45-year-old became the fifth Blues boss since the start of 2022-23, and a seventh permanent boss in five years.

If it was supposed to be a poisoned chalice then nobody told Maresca, who has made Chelsea a respected force again.

Implementing a possession-heavy style rooted in the principles he developed under Guardiola at City, Maresca brought structure to chaos last season.

Possession went up and the amount of goals they conceded went down – significantly.

Players like Palmer, Delap, Moises Caicedo, Levi Colwill and Malo Gusto form the backbone of a squad with years of growth ahead.

Jamie Gittens has just signed from Borussia Dortmund, with the 20-year-old winger joining on a contract until 2032.

Even though he is ineligible to play for Chelsea in the Club World Cup, having already featured in the tournament for Dortmund, Gittens has already linked up with the rest of Maresca’s squad.

It is a young, tight-knit group who look united on and off the pitch.

Chelsea’s commitment to youth is clear and Estevao Willian is another rising star who looks set for a very bright future.

The 18-year-old Brazilian scored an equaliser for Palmeiras against the Blues in Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final to serve notice of the talent Chelsea have signed in a deal that could eventually be worth £52million.

The Blues’ progress under Maresca is clear – but now they are so close to making the Club World Cup final, hopes are high they can go all the way and win it.

Watch the Club World Cup semi-finals and final on DAZN

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Watch both semi-finals and final for free on DAZN on your smart TV, phone, streaming device, PC/laptop and games console.

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