Fluminense head coach Renato Gaúcho said his side remain the “ugly duckling” of the FIFA Club World Cup as they prepare to face Saudi champions Al Hilal in Friday’s quarter-final at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. The Brazilian manager noted that, in financial terms, the Rio de Janeiro club trails the remaining contenders but insisted the tie will be decided on the pitch. Renato, who guided Fluminense to a 2–0 win over Internazionale in the previous round, declined to reveal whether he will again deploy a three-centre-back system. He said the squad has rehearsed two or three formations tailored to neutralise Al Hilal’s pace on the counter-attack and praised centre-back Thiago Silva as “still a Brazil-calibre player” for his leadership. Al Hilal coach Simone Inzaghi returned the compliment, calling Renato “a great strategist” and highlighting Fluminense’s defensive solidity—just one goal conceded in their last six matches. Inzaghi said his own team, which has spent more than R$3 billion on signings since 2023, is ready after an exhausting extra-time victory over Manchester City. The winner of Friday’s match will face either Palmeiras or Chelsea in the semi-finals.