Santos has a personal connection to Thiago Silva, the Fluminense captain, as Silva was his coach during his first season at Chelsea. However, Santos is clear that their game will be different from their time together at the club. "Thiago Silva was very important for me during my first season here," Santos said. "But in the semi-final, he is my rival, so we have to work hard against him."

Fluminense will be a tough opponent for Chelsea, as they remain unbeaten in this year's tournament. The Brazilian team has a strong record against English clubs, with both countries' teams evenly split at four wins apiece in the FIFA Club World Cup.

Chelsea has a balanced record against Brazilian teams, with two wins and two losses in their previous encounters. However, they will need to raise their level once more to earn a spot in the tournament's final. "It's a big game tomorrow against a big team," Santos said. "We have to prepare well because the game is so important for us."

The winner of this match will face either Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid in the final scheduled for June 13. Chelsea will need to be at their best to overcome Fluminense and secure a spot in the final.

Chelsea's encounter with Fluminense will be their third against a Brazilian team in this year's tournament. The Blues are the only team in the competition to face three opponents from the same country.

Fluminense, on the other hand, has struggled with possession in their previous matches, holding under 50% possession in four out of their five games. The winner of this match will need to be more effective in possession to progress to the final.