CHELSEA are set to take on a familiar face in the Club World Cup group stage.
Enzo Maresca‘s side begin their tournament against Los Angeles FC on Monday night.
Flamengo boss Felipe Luis is preparing to take on Chelsea at the Club World Cup[/caption]
The full-back played for the Blues for a single season in 2014[/caption]
The Blues are joined in Group D by Tunisian side Tunis EC and Brazil’s Flamengo
Felipe Luis, a former Premier League title winner with Chelsea, is Flamengo’s head coach.
The former full-back spent a year on the books at Stamford Bridge between 2014-15.
He made the most of his one season in West London, winning the Prem and the Carabao Cup.
Luis also played for Atletico Madrid, Deportivo and Figuerense in his two-decade career.
He ended his playing days at Flamengo, appearing over 100 times for the Rio-based club.
Luis took over the club’s youth team in January 2024 and was handed interim charge of the first XI last September.
Luis has impressed since taking over the reins, earning a new contract until the end of 2025.
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He has won 31 of his 46 games in charge, with Flamengo currently leading the way in Brazil’s Serie A.
And he will hope to get one over his former club when Flamengo face Chelsea on June 20 in Philadelphia.
The tournament is likely to see fringe players given a chance to shine on the big stage.
But Chelsea keeper Djordje Petrovic has already opted out as he prepares a summer move away from the Bridge.
Petrovic, 25, enjoyed a successful loan stint at Strasbourg this past season and recently returned to the Blues’ squad.
Following his impressive performances in Ligue 1, the stopper wants to be a guaranteed starter.
That is something the West Londoners cannot currently offer him.
According to The Telegraph, the Serbia international asked to be omitted from Maresca’s squad for the Club World Cup.
Strasbourg and West Ham have been linked with a swoop for the Serbian.
