Former Chelsea goalkeeper, and now assistant manager, Willy Caballero, said, it is up to the team to “defend the name and colours” of the Club.
The Argentine’s statement is coming ahead of the final FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group D match between his side, Chelsea, and Tunisian club, Esperance.
Caballero said, Chelsea is a “big, big club”, and the Blues’ popularity is visible across the United States (US), South America, as well as, “everywhere”.
Chelsea and Esperance will fight for a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 round of 16 with both sides amassing three (3) points from two (2) encounters each; the match will take place at Lincoln Financial Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at 02:00 (WAT).
One of the two will join Flamengo in the knockout stage of the tournament; Los Angeles FC are already out after losing their two (2) games to Chelsea and Esperance.
According to the club’s official website, at his pre-Esperance press conference, on his thoughts on Chelsea, Caballero said: “It’s easy to understand.
“The ambition of the club has not changed. Yes, many other things have: the coaches, the players. But the ambition? No, this at Chelsea is the same.”
Caballero flaunted the Blues colours for four (4) years as a player and lifted the FA Cup, Europa League, and the Champions League. The latter success secured Chelsea’s spot at this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup.
He returned to Stamford Bridge in 2024 to become a part of Enzo Maresca’s coaching staff.
Caballero continued: “Chelsea is an important club, a big, big club. You see that in America, in South America, everywhere. The supporters are across the world and their ambition is always there. So it’s on us to defend the name and the colours.
“We have to match the history and, as a staff, help create a great team that can compete. We have done this with qualifying for the Champions League and winning the Conference League, but we have to keep going.”
On his relationship with Maresca, Caballero said: “I’ve been very fortunate in my career – in the Premier League and other countries – that I have worked with many top coaches.
“But I don’t think anyone is as well prepared, tactically focused, and trains the details to give solutions to the players like Enzo.
“I felt this very quickly. In the moment I decided to finish my playing career, he had a space for me on his staff [at Leicester City] and I saw how he coached, managed the moments in the week and how he can interpret the game.
“So I believe he is a top manager.
“So there is always an open conversation between all the staff about what we can do better, how we can prepare better for the next day, and further on.”
Photo: Willy Caballero. X/Chelsea FC
