Gremio treating Pachuca as their ‘cup final’ clash
Though a potential showdown with Real Madrid could be horizon on Saturday in the final of the Fifa Club World Cup, Walter Kannemann has vowed that he and his Gremio teammates are not looking beyond their semi-final opponents Pachuca tonight in Al Ain.
The Brazilian side, who won the Copa Libertadores last month, face Pachuca at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium after the Mexican side were 1-0 victors over Wydad Casablanca in Saturday’s quarter-final in Abu Dhabi.
Real Madrid, the Spanish and European champions, go up against the UAE’s Al Jazira on Wednesday in the other semi-final, but Kannemann told Fifa. com of Gremio’s focus: “Pachuca is our Club World Cup final.”
The 26-year-old Argentine defender rates Pachuca highly, and does not believe the fact that the latter’s match on Saturday going to extra time will have any bearing on the outcome today.
“Pachuca are a very good side. I’ve played in Mexico and I know what they’re capable of.
“They’re going to be tough opponents for us. We watched the match against Wydad and it was intense.
“Playing extra time just makes you even more tired, but I had to go through it too when I played in the Club World Cup before. We had another game three or four days later, but players are very motivated in situations like that and they’re more than ready to do it.”
Gremio are making their first appearance in the Club World Cup after defeating Argentine side Lanus 3-1 on aggregate in the Copa Libertadores final.
They were the last of the seven sides to qualify for the competition and Kannemann believes the side are still enjoying the momentum of the club’s first Libertadores title since 1995.
“It’s not so much a case of feeling motivated as being happy at taking part in the tournament,” he said.
“We were crowned champions of South America a week to ten days ago and we know that this is a tough competition and a really nice one to win.”
One setback for Gremio is that Arthur, their 21-year-old midfielder, will not be in action in the UAE due to an ankle injury. Arthur’s impressive form has seen him catch the eye of Barcelona, with Spanish media reports claiming a deal has been already agreed for him to head to the Primera Liga side next month.
But, Kannemann believes that Gremio’s strength is their team spirit and togetherness and they will be able to cope without one of their most important players.
“If there’s anything we’ve stood out for this year, then it’s the fact that we’re a team,” he said. “Arthur wasn’t in the side when the Libertadores got under way. There were others in his place because they were playing better at the time.
“When it was his turn he played in the way everyone knows he can, and now he’s out of the side again.
“But we’ve got teammates who are also very talented. We’re confident and relaxed in the knowledge that they’re going to be up to the job.”
Unlike Gremio, this is not Kannemann’s first appearance at the Club World Cup.
He was part of the San Lorenzo side that lost 2-0 to Real Madrid in the 2014 competition.
Asked if he is looking to avenge that loss, he said: “It might be a revenge match. But then again, it might not.
“All the teams here are very good and they all want to be in the final.
“If we’re lucky enough to go through and take on Real Madrid, it’s going to be a great way for us to find out how good we are and what we can achieve.”