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Esperance striker Rodrigo Rodriguez has expressed pride in his team's resilience and character at the FIFA Club World Cup, despite their early exit from the tournament. The Tunisian side endured a tough Group D, competing against some of the world's best clubs, including Premier League giants Chelsea.
They started the season with a 2-0 defeat to Flamengo, but bounced back with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Los Angeles FC in Nashville, thanks to Mohamed Belaili's 70th-minute winner. Although the Blues needed a win to keep their hopes of reaching the last 16 alive, they lost 3-0, ending the tournament early. However, the Brazilian forward was impressed with his team's overall performance. "Not making the playoffs is definitely disappointing, especially after the determination we showed against Los Angeles. But regardless of the result, I'm extremely proud of my teammates," Rodriguez told Flashscore.com. "We gave everything on the pitch against some of the best teams in the world, it just wasn't going to be the same this time. “At the beginning of the tournament, many doubted us because of the quality of our opponents, but I think we proved them wrong. We showed that we can compete with some of the best teams in the world. “Our performances reflect the passion and quality of our team, and this experience will only make us stronger. We will take the lessons we learned here and grow from them as a team. This is just the beginning for us.” Fans and commentators praised Esperance’s victory over Los Angeles FC, proving that African clubs can still excel in top-flight competitions.
At the start of the tournament, many doubted us because of the quality of our opponents, but I think we proved them wrong. We showed that we can compete with some of the best teams in the world. “Our performances reflect the passion and quality of our team, and this experience will only make us stronger. We will take the lessons we learned here and grow from them as a team. This is just the beginning for us.” Fans and commentators praised Esperance’s victory over Los Angeles FC as proof that African clubs can still compete at a higher level than them. In fact, their victory over the Americans made them the first Arab team to win the Club World Cup, with Beshir Ben Said saving the decisive penalty in the 100th minute.
“We started the tournament with a heavy defeat, but our victory against LAFC gave us the confidence that we could achieve great things,” he added. “That victory was not just for us or Tunisia, but for the whole of Africa. We approached the game against Chelsea with the ambition to win, knowing that it would secure our qualification, but unfortunately we lost and our dream ended there. “Despite not qualifying, we have no regrets. We are proud of our efforts and have taken many positives from this experience that will help us grow and come back stronger.” What lies ahead for Esperance? Maher Canzari’s men leave with one win, two losses and more belief in themselves. Their spirited performance, especially against LAFC, earned them respect, while the lessons learned from the defeats against Flamengo and Chelsea will be the main foundation for their future growth. They will be aiming to secure a 35th Tunisian championship title, as well as their fifth CAF Champions League trophy next season. Asked about the club's next steps, he replied: "Now is the time to regroup, recover and focus on the new season ahead."
What awaits "Esperance"?
Maher Kanzari's men leave with one win, two losses and a boost in confidence. Their spirited performance, especially against Los Angeles, earned them respect, while the lessons learned from the defeats against Flamengo and Chelsea will be the foundation for their future growth. They will be aiming to secure a 35th Tunisian title, as well as their fifth CAF Champions League title next season. Asked about the club's next steps, he said: "Now is the time to regroup, recover and focus on the new season. "Playing in the Club World Cup has given us valuable experience that we will use in every game we play. Our goal is now clear. We want to dominate the Tunisian league again and challenge for the CAF Champions League title. "We also want to return to this tournament (the Club World Cup) and go further. We have seen what is required at this level and we believe we can match it. "The bond within the team has grown, as has our thirst for more. With renewed confidence and determination, we are ready to give it our all in the upcoming season and make our fans proud once again."