Fluminense is a familiar opponent for Chelsea, as they will face a Brazilian team for the third time in this year's tournament. The Londoners will take on Thiago Silva, who played for Chelsea from 2020 to 2024 and was a significant influence on Santos during his first season with the team.

Despite the respect Santos has for Silva, he insists that it will be a different game when they face each other in the semi-final. "Thiago Silva was very important for me during my first season here," Santos said. "He is also very important for Chelsea and its fans. But in the semi-final, he is my rival, and we need to work hard against him."

Fluminense will pose a tough challenge for Chelsea, as they remain unbeaten in this year's tournament. They have already knocked out Inter Milan and Al Hilal en route to the semi-finals. The Brazilian team has a balanced record against English teams, with four wins and four losses in their previous matches against them.

Chelsea has a good record against Brazilian teams, with two wins and two losses in their previous matches. Notably, both of their victories came against Palmeiras, including their recent triumph over the Brazilian side in this year's quarter-final.

Andrey Santos emphasizes that Chelsea must raise their level once more to earn a spot in the tournament's final. "It's a big game tomorrow against a big team," Santos said. "We need to prepare well because the game is so important for us, a semi-final, so we need to work hard and make sure we are ready."

The winner of this match will face either Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid in the final scheduled for June 13.