YOKOHAMA, Japan — Chelsea's interim manager Rafael Benitez praised the commitment of his players as the first holder to exit the Champions League at the group stages prepared for Sunday's Club World Cup final against Corinthians. “I've been really impressed with the mentality of the players,” Benitez told reporters Saturday. “Also the commitment, the passion that they show. “Every training session you can see they are keen to learn so all these positives are good for a manager thinking about the future.” Benitez also made it clear he is unconcerned about his future with the team ahead of Sunday's crucial game. “Preparing the team properly is my first task,” said Benitez. “I am not thinking about what is going on in the future. I am worried about tomorrow. We must play the game first, then we can think about other things.” Chelsea took four games to record a victory under Benitez, who replaced the sacked Roberto Di Matteo, but has won its last three, scoring 12 goals in the process with five of them coming from a resurgent Fernando Torres. “What we are trying to do is trying to keep this winning mentality, trying to keep this hunger in the players,” said Benitez, whose Liverpool side was runner-up in 2005. Chelsea is favorite to beat South American champion Corinthians after the London side overpowered Mexico's Monterrey 3-1 in Thursday's semifinal. Its Brazilian opponents, winner of the first Club World Cup in 2000, scraped past Egypt's Al-Ahly 1-0. Corinthians are expecting at least 15,000 travelling fans, many of whom have sold their cars and quit jobs to make the long trip. To add to the pressure, European sides have won the last five editions of the Club World Cup. Benitez was a winner with Inter Milan in 2010. Brazilian David Luiz started in front of Frank Lampard, still feeling his way back from injury, in the semifinal and Benitez said he had yet to decide his starting lineup. “It's only been a week since he returned,” Benitez said of Lampard. “We have to take it one game at a time with him.” Corinthians' boss Tite, meanwhile, brought his unusual style to the Cup in Japan Saturday by revealing his team a day ahead of the final clash. The boss of the Copa Libertadores winners said he would be making one change to the side that struggled to a 1-0 semifinal win over Egypt's Al-Ahly, but refuted suggestions that naming the lineup gave an advantage to his opponents. “The coach maintains his own style and he shouldn't change it,” Tite told a press conference in Yokohama. “I don't want to change my style. Whoever performs best on the pitch will be in the starting lineup. That is always the same for me.” Tite announced that Jorge Henrique would play instead of Douglas because he wanted to pressure Chelsea down the flanks with the winger's speed. He added that the switch would mean Danilo moving into a central midfield position. Chelsea boss Rafael Benitez refused to be drawn on what his starting team would be and whether he would stick with David Luiz, who excelled in an unfamiliar central midfield position in the semifinal win over Monterrey. — Agencies
