Jhon Arias' message after Fluminense x Borussia Dortmund

Fluminense began its participation in the Club World Cup with a goalless draw against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday (17) at MetLife Stadium. Although the score did not reflect the performance on the field, the Rio de Janeiro team was superior for much of the match and created the main goal opportunities.

The team led by Fernando Diniz showed, from the first minutes, an attacking and organized football. After all, the game plan was clear: to pressure the opponent and control possession of the ball. Even facing one of the biggest clubs in Germany, Fluminense managed to neutralize Dortmund's main attacking plays and had more game volume.

Jhon Arias was one of the highlights of the night. Elected by FIFA as the best player of the match, the Colombian did not mince words when evaluating the duel. "There is often a tendency to underestimate South American clubs, and I think that is a mistake," he said. According to him, modern football does not allow for this type of hasty judgment. Arias also emphasized that Fluminense has strength, quality and players with the potential to compete against any team.

Still, Arias himself acknowledged that the team let the victory slip away due to a lack of accuracy in their finishing. "We created several chances. We were superior for a good part of the game," he declared. The feeling in the locker room, according to the number 21, was a mix of frustration and tranquility. Because, even without the three points, the team demonstrated maturity and quality on the field.

The player also took the opportunity to highlight the importance of the Brazilian Championship as a high-level tournament. "You can't be surprised by a team that two years ago won the Libertadores," he said, recalling Fluminense's recent trajectory. Arias also cited examples of Brazilian athletes who shone in Europe, such as Thiago Silva, to reinforce his opinion.

Fluminense's next challenge in the Club World Cup will be on Saturday (21), at 7 pm (Brasília time), again at MetLife Stadium. The opponent this time will be Ulsan HD, from South Korea. The match is seen as decisive for the team's ambitions in the competition, after all, only the two best placed teams in the group advance to the next phase.