Chelsea fans hoping for a smooth ride through the Club World Cup were left frustrated on Friday night as the Blues slipped to a disappointing 3-1 defeat against Brazilian side Flamengo.
The match, played at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, raised more questions than answers—particularly around discipline, tactics, and depth.
A Promising Start That Quickly Fell Apart
Things actually started well for Chelsea. Pedro Neto grabbed an early goal—his second of the tournament—and it looked like Enzo Maresca’s men were on course to secure their place in the knockouts.
But it wasn’t long before it all unraveled. Flamengo roared back with three unanswered goals from Bruno Henrique, Danilo, and Wallace Yan.
Just like that, Chelsea’s momentum was gone, and Flamengo were the ones celebrating progression to the next round.
Jackson Sees Red… Again
Unfortunately for Chelsea, the drama didn’t end with the scoreline.
Nicolas Jackson was shown a straight red card for a high challenge—his second sending-off in just two months after also being dismissed against Newcastle.
His latest lapse in judgment now rules him out of Chelsea’s final group match against ES Tunis on Wednesday.
That game suddenly feels like a must-win to avoid an early trip back to London.
Maresca’s Tactical Tweaks Raise Eyebrows
After the match, Maresca was keen to talk about his tactical experiments.
He tried out Malo Gusto in a more traditional full-back role, something he doesn’t usually opt for.
Reece James, Moises Caicedo, and Enzo Fernandez were packed into midfield, while Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto worked the flanks and Liam Delap led the line.
The boss claimed the setup “worked for about an hour,” but not everyone will agree.
Gusto was repeatedly exposed on the right-hand side, allowing Flamengo to create space and exploit Chelsea’s defensive gaps—shades of his tough night in the Conference League final came flooding back.
Goalkeeping Questions Continue
It wasn’t just the outfield players under scrutiny. Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez had a rocky night.
Within the first few minutes, he twice gave the ball away while attempting to play out from the back—mistakes that handed Flamengo early opportunities.
Maresca wants a ball-playing keeper, but Sanchez hasn’t looked comfortable in that role.
The club had considered signing a new goalkeeper ahead of this tournament—names like AC Milan’s Mike Maignan were mentioned—and performances like this one might push them to revisit that plan.
Jackson Under Pressure
It’s no secret that Jackson is under increasing pressure at Chelsea.
Despite the club spending £30 million on Liam Delap, they’re still being linked with other strikers.
That can’t be easy for Jackson, and his red card won’t help his case.
After already missing the tail end of the Premier League season, he’s now suspended for the most crucial game of Chelsea’s Club World Cup campaign.
Teammates have publicly backed him, but fans will need convincing that he can be relied on in big moments.
Brazil’s Clubs Continue to Shine
It’s worth noting that Brazilian clubs are having a great tournament.
Flamengo, Botafogo, Palmeiras, and Fluminense have yet to lose a match.
They’ve played fewer games this season than their European counterparts and are used to the searing heat.
It’s also clear that this competition means a lot more to the South Americans, who treat it with intensity and pride, while European teams often view it as a pre-season inconvenience.
Still, all excuses aside—it’s 11 against 11, and Flamengo earned their win.
No Game Time for Andrey Santos
There was a sense of anticipation around young Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos ahead of the game.
The former Vasco da Gama talent had spoken the day before about the emotional weight of facing Flamengo, his boyhood club’s biggest rivals.
But in the end, he didn’t play. It’s now two matches in the U.S. without a single minute on the pitch, leaving fans and pundits to wonder if Chelsea are quietly signaling that he’s not in their immediate plans.
Santos had a strong loan at Strasbourg and is eager to break into Chelsea’s first team.
Maresca insists his chance is coming—but until then, interested clubs will surely be watching closely.