Al Hilal's Leonardo Jardim: Chelsea handed unfair advantage in Fifa Club World Cup semis

Al Hilal manager Leonardo Jardim has called on Fifa to change the format for the Club World Cup, saying it currently favours European and South American participants.

The Asian champions take on reigning Uefa Champions League holders Chelsea in the semi-final in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. As European representatives, Chelsea enter the competition at the last-four stage, while Hilal had to first negotiate a second-round tie. On Sunday, the Saudi Arabians defeated UAE champions Al Jazira 6-1 at the same Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium where they meet Chelsea.

Speaking at Tuesday’s pre-match press conference, Jardim said: "I’d like to give a warning to Fifa - I find it unfair some teams have to play four matches in eight days and other teams are the best and only have to play two matches and are well rested.

"There should be better care with the match schedule, with more days to recover so teams from Asia [and North and Central America] can have ambition to win this cup.”

Jardim, a Ligue 1 winner with Monaco in 2017, said his side took advantage of Jazira’s busier programme to progress. The Abu Dhabi club had kicked off the Club World Cup with a 4-1 win against Tahiti’s AS Pirae – three days before meeting Hilal. On Sunday, Jazira had opening the scoring against their Gulf counterparts.

"I'm sure that European teams, and in this case Chelsea, they are always the favourites, no doubt about it,” Jardim said. “But they have an extra advantage when we have just two days to recover.

"They have a full squad that is fresh. Our victory from the other match is a reflection of two days earlier, because Al Jazira had played a game two days before. I think the game would have been different had Al Jazira been rested."

Al Hilal's Mohamed Kanno