Corinthians prepared to 'play dirty' in Club World Cup

Tokyo - Corinthians are prepared to “play dirty” to win the FIFA Club World Cup, the Brazilian club’s coach Tite has said.

The Copa Libertadores champions will meet Egypt’s Al-Ahly in Wednesday’s first quarterfinal following the African champions’ 2-1 victory over Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima Sunday, Xinhua reports.

“I don’t like this idea of luck. I believe in working for what you achieve, in competence and in the way you conduct yourself,” Tite said Monday.

“Nobody here is going to take a backward step. If we have to break a leg, we will. If we have to play dirty, we will. I have all of these options at my disposal. I just have to choose which one I’m going to use.”

Corinthians are favourites to advance to the final against European champions Chelsea, who will meet Mexico’s Monterrey in the other semifinal Thursday.

Tite praised Al-Ahly’s slick passing game and cited experienced midfielder Mohamed Aboutrika as the team’s most dangerous player.

“He is intelligent and the person who starts most of their attacking moves,” Tite said of the 34-year-old Egypt international.