Chelsea's midfielder Moises Caicedo remains optimistic after their defeat against Flamengo in the Club World Cup, emphasizing the importance of learning from the experience.
During the match in Philadelphia, Chelsea struggled in the second half, losing 3-1 to Flamengo and ending the game with 10 players.
The turning point came in a turbulent six-minute period where Chelsea conceded two goals and received a red card for Nicolas Jackson, who had only been on the pitch for four minutes before the reckless tackle.
This outcome places Chelsea in second position in Group D with one win and one loss, potentially setting them up for a tougher path in the competition, including a potential encounter with Bayern Munich in the last 16.
Reflecting on the defeat, Caicedo stated, "It was tough to accept, but now we are looking ahead to the next match. We must take lessons from this game and show a reaction.
He added, "I believe the team performed well, but we must maintain focus for the entire 95 minutes of the game as a single moment can change the outcome, which is what happened."
While Flamengo displayed more energy, Chelsea posed a threat with quick counter-attacks, leading to Pedro Neto opening the scoring in the 14th minute after a break from halfway.
Flamengo turned the tide of the match with Bruno Henrique equalizing just after the hour mark, followed by Danilo adding a second three minutes later.
The game took a downturn for Chelsea when Jackson received a red card for a studs-up challenge on Ayrton Lucas, extinguishing any hopes of a comeback.
Flamengo sealed the victory with Wallace Yan scoring seven minutes before the final whistle.
Manager Enzo Maresca attributed the defeat, including a subdued performance from playmaker Cole Palmer in a different role, to experimental tactics in preparation for the upcoming season.
Maresca explained, "Our approach was not solely about Cole. Over the past two days, we experimented with a different strategy to enhance our options for the future."
He continued, "I believe our plan was effective for the first hour until we conceded, but ultimately Flamengo deserved the win with their strong performance."
Summing up Flamengo's performance, Maresca acknowledged their quality as a team with talented players and a skilled manager who executed the game plan effectively.