Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is chasing a third trophy since joining the club 12 months ago. PA
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is chasing a third trophy since joining the club 12 months ago. PA
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is chasing a third trophy since joining the club 12 months ago. PA
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is chasing a third trophy since joining the club 12 months ago. PA

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Football

Thomas Tuchel 'excited' by chance of Fifa Club World Cup glory with Chelsea in Abu Dhabi

Premier League side enter tournament at semi-final stage, on February 9

John McAuley
John McAuley

January 31, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel says his side will do everything to win what he calls the “extraordinary” Fifa Club World Cup, which begins this week in Abu Dhabi.

The European champions, taking part in the competition for only the second time, are considered favourites for the February 3-12 tournament. Abu Dhabi plays host to the event for the fifth time following successful runs in 2009, 2010, 2017 and 2018.

Chelsea enter at the semi-final stage on February 9, where they face either UAE champions Al Jazira, Tahiti’s AS Pirae or last year’s Asian Champions League winners Al Hilal. The match will be staged at the Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium.

Tuchel, who seeks a third trophy since joining Chelsea last year, told the club’s official website: "Once you're in it you're pretty excited. Once you're not in it, it's a competition that has not the highest focus on and highest value. It seems like this in Europe, or only for me.

"But once you're in it and you start planning it and you see it coming on the horizon it is quite exciting."

In the 2012 Club World Cup, played in Japan, Chelsea got through their semi-final only to lose 1-0 to Brazil’s Corinthians in the showpiece. At present, Manchester United and Liverpool are the only English side to have captured the trophy.

Chelsea win Uefa Super Cup final

  • Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga celebrates victory after saving the last Villarreal penalty during the Uefa Super Cup Final at Windsor Park on August 11, 2021 in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
    Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga celebrates victory after saving the last Villarreal penalty during the Uefa Super Cup Final at Windsor Park on August 11, 2021 in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
  • Chelsea's players during the penalty shoot-out.
    Chelsea's players during the penalty shoot-out.
  • Villarreal's players during the penalty shoot-out.
    Villarreal's players during the penalty shoot-out.
  • Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga celebrates victory after saving the last Villarreal penalty.
    Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga celebrates victory after saving the last Villarreal penalty.
  • Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta celebrates with the Uefa Super Cup trophy.
    Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta celebrates with the Uefa Super Cup trophy.
  • Reece James, Cesar Azpilicueta, Jorginho of Chelsea celebrate after winning the Uefa Super Cup Final.
    Reece James, Cesar Azpilicueta, Jorginho of Chelsea celebrate after winning the Uefa Super Cup Final.
  • Christian Pulisic of Chelsea kisses the trophy.
    Christian Pulisic of Chelsea kisses the trophy.
  • Chelsea players lift the trophy.
    Chelsea players lift the trophy.
  • Edouard Mendy of Chelsea with the trophy.
    Edouard Mendy of Chelsea with the trophy.
  • Reece James, Kepa Arrizabalaga of Chelsea with the Uefa Super Cup.
    Reece James, Kepa Arrizabalaga of Chelsea with the Uefa Super Cup.
  • A Chelsea fan watches on during the Uefa Super Cup 2021 match against Villarreal.
    A Chelsea fan watches on during the Uefa Super Cup 2021 match against Villarreal.
  • Villarreal fans at Windsor Park.
    Villarreal fans at Windsor Park.
  • Kai Havertz and Timo Werner of Chelsea pose with the Uefa Super Cup Trophy.
    Kai Havertz and Timo Werner of Chelsea pose with the Uefa Super Cup Trophy.
  • Callum Hudson-Odoi, Trevoh Chalobah and Tammy Abraham of Chelsea celebrate.
    Callum Hudson-Odoi, Trevoh Chalobah and Tammy Abraham of Chelsea celebrate.
  • Jorginho of Chelsea celebrates scoring his penalty in the shoot-out.
    Jorginho of Chelsea celebrates scoring his penalty in the shoot-out.
  • Kepa Arrizabalaga of Chelsea celebrates with teammates after making the match-winning save during the penalty shoot-out in the Uefa Super Cup 2021 match against Villarreal.
    Kepa Arrizabalaga of Chelsea celebrates with teammates after making the match-winning save during the penalty shoot-out in the Uefa Super Cup 2021 match against Villarreal.
  • Callum Hudson-Odoi of Chelsea celebrates with the Uefa Super Cup with Chelsea fans.
    Callum Hudson-Odoi of Chelsea celebrates with the Uefa Super Cup with Chelsea fans.
  • Thiago Silva and Mason Mount of Chelsea celebrate.
    Thiago Silva and Mason Mount of Chelsea celebrate.
  • The Uefa Super Cup trophy.
    The Uefa Super Cup trophy.
  • Emerson Palmieri of Chelsea poses for a photo with the Uefa Super Cup.
    Emerson Palmieri of Chelsea poses for a photo with the Uefa Super Cup.
  • Cesar Azpilicueta of Chelsea holds the Uefa Super Cup.
    Cesar Azpilicueta of Chelsea holds the Uefa Super Cup.

"It's a big opportunity to win an extraordinary trophy, which is far from daily business,” Tuchel said. “And that's why we'll do anything to take the chance to make it happen.”

Brazil’s Palmeiras, Egypt’s Al Ahly and Mexico’s Monterrey make up the other teams competing in Abu Dhabi. Al Jazira, who in 2017 reached the last four before losing to eventual winners Real Madrid, kick off the tournament on Thursday. They face a play-off match against Oceania representatives AS Pirae, with the winner moving on to meet Al Hilal in the second round on Sunday.

Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion

The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.

Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".

The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.

He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.

"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.

As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.

Updated: January 31, 2022, 5:51 AM
Premier League