João Pedro Stars As Chelsea Through To Club World Cup Final

0:01Coming up on today's show, Chelsea are through to the final of the Club World Cup.

0:13New signing Joao Pedro scored two brilliant goals to beat his boyhood club Fluminense. But who will they face in the final? Will it be PSG or Real Madrid? Stay tuned for all the action.

0:57Together let's drive. Visit chevy.com slash trucks to explore the lineup.

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2:18Hello and welcome to The Rest is Football with Alan Shearer, Alex Aljo, and me, Gary Lineker. Chelsea are through to the final of the Club World Cup after beating Fluminense 2-0 in New York City. Don't forget, every single match is available to watch live and for free on the DAZN app. No subscription required. And there's only two games left now. We're recording this on Wednesday after the Chelsea game, but before the Real Madrid PSG game, which we'll cover in the next episode. So we'll focus mainly, well almost entirely on Chelsea Fluminasi and in the second half there's quite a bit of transfer speculation moves things that we can talk about then Alex you were doing both semi-finals I presume because they're in New York and you were there you were there watching your team your team Fluminense I'm not a Fluminense fan go through to the final it was actually a brilliant performance from Chelsea yesterday.

3:22Fluminense have looked good throughout the tournament, but they were made to look very ordinary by Enzo Morescu's team. Clean sheet, very solid at the back, and wow! What a first start for João Pedro. It could not have gone any better than that. Yeah, João Pedro, I like it. I like it, but the first goal was brilliant, and I think the second was arguably even better.

3:52He's done it again! 75 miles an hour against his boyhood club. What a story that is. He apologised to them. He didn't celebrate. They weren't overly happy with him at the final whistle because we did the interview right in front of the Blumenese fans. I saw you asking him the question.

4:11Alan Shearer:I thought he was very diplomatic. Yeah, he came across well, didn't he? But brilliant start for him. What a player, what a signing. Just what Chelsea needed.

4:19Gary Lineker:What a performance on and off the pitch, wasn't it? I mean, it was... The two goals were fantastic. The way he positioned himself, the way the balance, and obviously the most important thing, the finish of both of them was just magnificent. I'm not too sure about the non-celebration. You know as well as you know me that I don't agree with all that crap. But, yeah, his two goals were just outstanding. And Chelsea, I mean, I thought all over the park, They were really, really impressive. You talk about his two goals. Defensively, I thought they were superb. Goal line clearance, defended well when they had to.

4:58Gary Lineker:And they're looking good, aren't they, Chelsea?

5:00Alan Shearer:Yeah, I thought they played really well. Dominated the game. It never looked really in any doubt, I don't think. Obviously, there was the decision turned over the handball.

5:08Gary Lineker:Rene in low. Is it going to drop? Well, they're claiming handball. And the referee points to the penalty spot. he's hit his hand for certain

5:33Alan Shearer:which I think we all agree they got it right on that particular occasion I asked Trevor Chalibur about it after the game I said did your heart sink when they said there was a penalty. He went, no, my heart didn't sink because I knew it wasn't a penalty. Yeah. It was really defiant. He was like, no, it didn't. And actually, credit to the ref as well for turning over because we don't often see that in the Premier League, do we? It takes a lot of confidence to say, yeah, sorry, got it wrong. But it wasn't a penalty, I don't think.

6:00Gary Lineker:Yeah, I was saying on the group, wasn't I? Oh my God, what on earth has he given a penalty there for? So I was pleased, I should say, when he overturned his error. It was a frustrating game, I think, for Nicholas Jackson who came on in the 60th minute. And that was pre-planned because Gio Pedro's been on the beach. He hasn't been training. He's not fully fit. But yeah, Nicholas Jackson came on and he looked really frustrated. And then Cole Palmer was fuming at him for not passing to him, which I understand would be so free in front of him.

6:29Alan Shearer:So it should be. You don't usually see him being demonstrative at all. It's the first time I've seen him really actually show that kind of, you know, just shows you're burning underneath. There's a competitive soul in there. And he was really pissed off with him, wasn't he? Because as you can see that he should have squared the ball. He takes a shot, misses by the near post and then Goldbomber kicks in. He kicks the post in frustration at that. He also was involved, wasn't he, with the injury at the end to Mojiz Kasey though, wasn't he? Because he did poor ball and he ended up getting injured at the end.

7:01Alan Shearer:I don't know. Do you, any update on his injury? Yeah, I asked Maresco about it after the game. He said, I've just told him he has to be fit for Sunday because he said before the game, we are a better team with Moises Casado in it fact because obviously he was suspended for the last game the Palmeiras game came back into the team but although he did say Andres Santos did really well playing instead of Casado in that game but yeah he said I've just told him he has to be fit so he doesn't have an option What do you make of the I don't say it's his dilemma it's actually quite a strong position to be in now they've gone from only really having one out and out striker Chelsea haven't they to having three and don't forget Esteval's coming as well who can kind of play anywhere in those roles.

7:41Alan Shearer:So now they've got Jackson, De Lapp and, of course, Pedro. Who plays, Alan?

7:47Gary Lineker:I don't know. Am I playing devil's advocate here and thinking Jackson, maybe? Surplus to required? Maybe, yeah. I mean, yeah, that wouldn't surprise me if he was sold to someone, whether in our country or not. I don't know. But that's one that wouldn't surprise me if they made that decision. Just think that Jael Pedro is so versatile. He can play. It was sort of a false nine yesterday, playing deeper, but he can play on the wing. He even, he had the ball away in the back post at one point. It was all over the pitch, whereas obviously Jackson is more, you're out and out striker, isn't he? And then Liam de Lappe suspended for that game.

8:24He comes back, but surely Jao Pedro starts. Surely.

8:28Alan Shearer:Well, most certainly, I would say.

8:29Gary Lineker:They have got some serious options, those Chelsea now, in every forward position.

8:34Alan Shearer:Well, they've got like 73 players for every position.

8:40it's 29 players out here by the way 29 29 because i asked the other day uh and they were like why do you want to know i just want to know 29 jamie gittins is 30 obviously but he can't he can't play uh but then they have the players back home the likes of what breuer chilwell sterling so they've got a few players um i think they need to offload before they sign anymore what do what do you think

9:06Alan Shearer:the strongest say frontline is Al if you have the three of them you've got obviously Neto Neto I'm a big fan I just saw his there's a post about Neto obviously talking about he wants to dedicate the final in fact I've got it here the quotes actually talking obviously about Diogo Jota it's been a really difficult past few days it's a really tough time for me difficult to speak about it and let's hope I can do it for him I want to dedicate this final to him and his family and show my support in these difficult times for them. Yeah, they're obviously close friends who would have played together.

9:41Gary Lineker:I like him. He's been impressive, by the way. Oh, he's a good player. On the pitch as well, you know, even with what he's had to go through mentally to get through that game or games. I like how direct he is, how powerful he is running with the ball. And he's someone that I would love to play up front with because I think in terms of how being direct and knowing he's going to get the ball in, I think it's someone I enjoy playing up front with. So for me, he's won that will and should start. Gittins, possibly on the left.

10:10Alan Shearer:I mean, João Pedro can play on that. We've seen him play there many times for Brighton. He can also, as you quite rightly said, Alex, he can drop into that almost a number 10 role or false nine. But then, and then you'd probably have Palmer behind him. And then like they did, they were into, I thought it was really quite impressive. Yeah, they're making strides, Chelsea. And money. Oh, and the money, yes. it's crazy it's 86.9 million currently as things stand getting to the final

10:39Gary Lineker:and if they were to win it what extra does that put on top I mean it's not as if Chelsea need it is that they can just sell another hotel or the women's team or whatever how much extra do they get if they win it I think it all goes to 90 million or so because it was going to be 125 million dollars maximum which I converted earlier and it came at 90 million or something it's the first time I've had to convert those figures That would buy a player.

11:03Alan Shearer:You'd buy one player. Well, it's what, João Pedro was£60 million. So you got João Pedro with£30 million in hand. You actually sent Alex that Harry's just passed me the numbers here. So for participation alone, Chelsea got£29.6 million. For two wins in the group stage, £3 million there. The round of 16 knockout, £5.8 million. Quarter final,£10.2 million. And then for beating In Fluminense, they got£16.3 million and they're already guaranteed at least another£22 million for the final.

11:38Gary Lineker:Not that they needed it, by the way, but they're not struggling for the PSR laws or rules, are they? They're all right to go forward.

11:45Alan Shearer:Well, it saves them buying a hotel that's already owned by them.

11:49Gary Lineker:I should say that, yeah.

11:50Alan Shearer:They're not struggling. All I'll say, money aside, and I know it's important, there's a lot of money, but they do really want to win this. They do care. It's not just about the money. The players aren't probably thinking about the money when they're out on the pitch, although they just want to win their game. So they care a lot. And I know they want to win it. But it's not going to be easy because they've got to beat PSG or Real Madrid. And they probably haven't been tested because we've said it, haven't we? They were lucky with the side of the draw. Luckier than having been on the other side of the draw.

12:18Yeah, they've definitely got the right side of the draw. Big test now for them.

12:21Alan Shearer:They've definitely got the right side of the draw, but they've made the most of it. I mean, tell us about the heat yesterday. It looked like inside the stadium of New York. It was absolutely crazy because I've said it's been hot, but that was probably the hottest it has been. Everyone was dripping, like fans, just like clothes were drenched. It was boiling. And I interviewed Tosin at halftime, which is obviously the last thing he wanted to do. He was just soaking wet. I said, what are the conditions like? I got one word, tough. I know you don't want to do this interview but I'm sorry that's never great one word answers are never great I asked four questions what else do I ask the press officer said two questions I said fair enough but it ended up being four questions and the interview was 30 seconds that's all he had

13:14Gary Lineker:that's never a good sign is it when you get a one word answer no but it was it was it was so tough for them out there it was absolutely boiling

13:22Alan Shearer:Chelsea Do you think they can compete for the title next season?

13:26Gary Lineker:I do, yeah. I don't think they're finished in terms of their transfer business. There'll be more come in and go out as well. So, yeah, I do. I think they've been very smart in who they're signing and they've made some clever ones and I think there'll be more. So I think they will, yeah, absolutely. And they'll build on from what they've achieved this season, conference, qualifying for the Champions League and they'll go again, yeah.

13:47Alan Shearer:Must be music to your ears. I was going to say, it just feels like they're finding form, finally. 13 wins now in the last 15. They haven't conceded a goal in the first half here, the Club World Cup. And I asked Maresco about it, just said like, you've got something good going on. And he said the classic. No, game by game. We take it game by game. We just think about Sunday. But I think, yeah, looking ahead to next season, it's exciting. We can achieve some good things. I've always wondered one day, your interviewer manager, and you say, so, you know, you've got this coming up in a couple of weeks' time.

14:19Alan Shearer:And if you win that game, and then turn around and go, I said, yeah, when we win that one, then we're going to win that game and do that. Just once, you'll be like, oh, how do you deal with that? Anyway, so great result for Chelsea. They're in the final. They'll play, as we've said, PSG or Real Madrid. Let's take a break. And when we come back, let's talk a bit about the transfer news and speculation. This episode is brought to you by Wise. It's only when you start moving money between currencies that you really think about the exchange rate, the fee, and what might be hidden away in the small print.