Club World Cup ‘difficult’ for Cancelo, Neves after Jota death
Orlando – Al Hilal’s coach Simone Inzaghi admitted that Rúben Neves and João Cancelo found himself “difficult” to prepare for the quarter -final of the FIFA club World Cup against Fluminense after the death of their international teammate Diogo Jota.
Liverpool striker Jota, 28, died Thursday in a car accident in Spain alongside his brother André Silva.
Neves and Cancelo both represented Portugal alongside Jota and were informed of the news while it was in the United States with the club Al Hilal side, which would face Fluminense in Orlando on Friday.
“We all know that it is a very sad day because of what happened to Diogo and André,” said Inzaghi at a press conference on Thursday. “These things should never happen. We are all aware of the tragedy. We have two players from Portugal Rúben Neves and João Cancelo who were friends for them.
“Today was a very difficult day for all of us. We tried to work in the same way, but the atmosphere was different. It is a very, very sad tragedy.”
Cancelo was among a number of teammates to publish a tribute to JOTA after the news.
“Today, we did not just wake up without two players,” he published on social networks. “Today, three children woke up without their father. Today, a mother and a father woke up without their two sons.
“Today, a woman woke up without her husband by her side. Today, we all woke up in shock.”
Al Hilal and Fluminense will compete only in the quarter -final which does not include a European team, the Brazilian team reaching the last eight by beating national rivals Botafogo in the round of 16.
Coach Renato Gaucho told his players to “make history” when they line up at the World Stadium campsite.
The 62 -year -old also qualified his team the “ugly of Canetons” of quarter finalists because they do not have the same financial resources as Al Hilal – supported by the public investment fund of Saudi Arabia – or European heavy goods vehicles such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or Chelsea.
“We live this magical moment with flask,” said Gaucho. “We have the opportunity to play in the semi-finals among the best world teams. I don’t know when another opportunity like this one will come, if ever.
“Watch all these teams [in the quarterfinals] Fluminense is the ugly of duck, at least in financial terms.
“Football is decided on the ground. We have certain difficulties with regard to the budget, so there is a gap with them [Al-Hilal]. Outside the field, they have different financial conditions, but on the ground, it’s another story. “”
