Chelsea are aiming to become only the third English team to win the FIFA Club World Cup.Manchester United first won the tournament back in 2008, defeating Ecuadorian outfit LDU Quito in the final, while Liverpool lifted the trophy in 2019 with victory over Brazilian side Flamengo.Chelsea take on Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal on Wednesday in the semi-finals. Win that and theyâll face South American champions Palmeiras in this weekendâs final, which takes place at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.Among the relatively small group of English players to have a FIFA Club World Cup winnersâ medal in his collection is Man Utd hero Paul Scholes.The legendary English midfielder won a host of major honours during his glittering career at Old Trafford including 11 Premier League titles, three FA Cups, two League Cups and, as mentioned, the FIFA Club World Cup.A second-half goal from Wayne Rooney in Yokohama earned United a 1-0 win over LDU Quito back in December 2008.
Paul Scholes: Badminton trophy meant more than Club World Cup
However, in an amusing interview with BBC 5 Live Sport after Liverpoolâs triumph in 2019, Scholes insisted that his local badminton trophy - yes, really - means more to him that his FIFA Club World Cup winnersâ medal.
Asked how much the FIFA Club World Cup meant to him as a player, Scholes said: âUmmm⦠Well you want to win it once youâre there but I donât think it was ever something that we were desperate to win. Even now if someone said to you âwhat trophies did you win over the years?â I donât think weâd mention the World Cup Championship, I really donât.
âIâm not joking! Iâm serious!
âBut you know what, itâs like anything else. It might take more importance over the years. It looks like Liverpool have enjoyed it, celebrated it and will probably mention it and why not - but just when we were playing it wasnât that serious, I donât think.
âBut not you look back I suppose youâre quite happy but itâs not something you set out to do as a player.â
Scholes then had everyone in the studio cracking up by admitting his badminton trophy meant more to him.
Watch the interview here:
Players in other countries view FIFA Club World Cup differently
The FIFA Club World Cup is viewed very differently by players in other countries - particularly in South America.
Teams from South America are desperate to perform well in the tournament each year.
Palmeiras have never won the FIFA Club World Cup before and for many of their players and the clubâs supporters it would be a dream come true if they win Saturdayâs final.
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