The Tunisian side faced a tough journey in Group D, going up against some of the world’s top clubs, including Premier League giants Chelsea.
Esperance opened their campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Flamengo but bounced back with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Los Angeles FC in Nashville, thanks to a 70th-minute winner from Mohamed Belaili.
Despite needing a win over the Blues to keep their Round of 16 hopes alive, they fell to a 3-0 defeat, ending their tournament early. Nevertheless, the Brazilian forward remains impressed with his team’s overall performance.
"Missing out on the knockout stage is certainly disappointing, especially after the determination we showed against LAFC. But despite the outcome, I’m extremely proud of my teammates," Rodrigues told Flashscore.com.
"We gave everything on the pitch against some of the world’s top clubs, it just wasn’t meant to be this time.
"At the start of the tournament, many people doubted us because of the quality of our opponents, but I believe we’ve proven them wrong. We showed that we can compete with some of the best teams across the globe.
"Our performances reflect the passion and quality in our squad, and this experience will only make us stronger. We’ll take the lessons learned here and grow from them as a team. This is just the beginning for us."
Fans and pundits alike lauded Esperance’s victory over LAFC, proving that African clubs can still punch above their weight in top-tier tournaments.
In fact, their victory over the Americans marked them as the first Arab team to win at the Club World Cup, with Bechir Ben Said making a crucial penalty save in the 100th minute.
"We began the competition with a tough loss, but our win against LAFC gave us confidence that we could achieve great things," he added.
"That victory wasn’t just for us or Tunisia, it was for all of Africa. We approached the match against Chelsea with the ambition to win, knowing it would secure our qualification, but unfortunately, we lost and our dream ended there.
"Despite not qualifying, we have no regrets. We’re proud of our effort and have taken away many positives from this experience that will help us grow and come back stronger."
What next for Esperance?
Maher Kanzari’s men depart with one win, two losses, and a strengthened belief in themselves. Their spirited display, especially against LAFC, won them respect, while the lessons learned from defeats to Flamengo and Chelsea will be key foundations for their future growth.
They will be aiming to secure a record-extending 35th Tunisian league title, along with their fifth CAF Champions League crown next season.
Asked about what is next for the club, he said: "Now is the moment to regroup, recharge, and focus on the new season ahead.
"Playing in the Club World Cup has given us valuable experience that we’ll carry into every match going forward. Our goal now is clear. We want to dominate the Tunisian league again and challenge for the CAF Champions League title
"Also, we want to come back to this competition (Club World Cup) and go even further. We’ve seen what’s required at this level, and we believe we can match it.
"The bond within the squad has grown, and so has our hunger to achieve more. With renewed confidence and determination, we’re ready to give everything in the upcoming season and make our fans proud once again."
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