ORLANDO, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Fluminense manager Renato Gaucho embraced his team's underdog label on Thursday ahead of its FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinal against Al Hilal.

Renato said his team could not match the Saudi side's spending power but insisted that results - not resources - define greatness in football.

"The best team in the world is the one that wins," the former Brazil international forward told a news conference on the eve of Friday's clash in Orlando.

"And the best scheme in the world is the one that wins. Paris Saint-Germain deserved to win the Champions League. Money is important, but football is decided on the pitch. Fluminense is the ugly duckling in financial terms. We're getting there, showing our strength, and we hope we can get there."

Fluminense reached the last eight with a 2-0 win over Inter Milan while Al Hilal stunned Manchester City 4-3 in extra time. Despite acknowledging Al Hilal's economic clout, Renato predicted an evenly balanced contest.

"In my opinion, it is 50 percent for each side. In the financial part, they have the upper hand. They have evolved significantly. I don't know if they can be compared to a European club. Off the field, for sure. But on the field they are still not quite PSG, Real Madrid or City," he said. "Off the field they run us over financially, on the field it's 11 against 11."

Renato praised Al Hilal's performance against City but warned the result would count for little against the Rio de Janeiro outfit.

"They deserved the win. They approached the game the right way and City probably underestimated them a little. They thought they could win at any moment. When they woke up, it was a little late."

Renato said his squad had forged a winning spirit through "cohesion" and mutual respect during the tournament. He singled out 40-year-old center-back Thiago Silva for special praise.

"He's a coach on the field," Renato said. "And he's still a very good player. In my humble opinion, he still should be in Brazil's national team." ■