-Fluminense Boss Praises Team’s Response After Victory Over Al-HilalFluminense head coach Renato Portaluppi shared his delight following his team’s hard-fought 2-1 win against Al-Hilal, which earned them a place in the FIFA Club World Cup semi-finals.
Substitute Hercules netted the winning goal, and Portaluppi revealed he had encouraged the player beforehand to stick to his strengths and assured him a chance would come — which he ultimately seized.
Reflecting on the performance, Portaluppi said he was proud of how his squad handled the tough encounter, stating, “We knew it would be a challenging match, but I’m really pleased with how the players responded.”
He also expressed appreciation for the traveling Brazilian supporters, adding, “I’m very happy for all our fans who made the trip — their support means everything, and they’ll continue with us into the semi-finals.”
Fluminense will now prepare to face either Chelsea or Palmeiras in the next round.