Following their triumph in the Club World Cup, the Chelsea squad, especially Levi Colwill, displayed a clear sense of confidence. Contrary to expectations leading up to the match that they might lose to Paris Saint-Germain, the Blues arrived at MetLife Stadium, effectively pressed PSG out of the game, and secured their second trophy of the season. Colwill perfectly summed up the sentiment afterwards, stating, “That`s just what Chelsea do, Chelsea wins.”
While winning hasn`t been consistently easy for the Blues recently, this Club World Cup victory (which they`ll proudly display on their shirts, still without a sponsor, until the 2029 tournament) marks their return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2022-23 season. Winning the Conference League was seen as a minimum expectation, and securing a top-four finish in the Premier League was an achievement. However, the win against PSG felt like a moment, perhaps just for 90 minutes, when the Chelsea team that regularly competed for major honors reappeared.
“We knew this was our final game of the season,” Colwill explained. “There was no way we were going on holiday thinking, `Oh, I wish I could have given a bit more for the team.` I told everyone this before the match, and we went out there and gave everything. That`s what the scoreline shows, and that`s why we wanted it.”
Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo justified their significant transfer fees by dominating the midfield. Cole Palmer showcased why he`s considered one of the Premier League`s premier talents, and Marc Cucurella was exceptionally active across the pitch. Even João Pedro, who only joined Chelsea 11 days before the final, effectively led the line and scored, raising hopes for the arrival of a genuinely impactful striker, a void felt since Diego Costa`s departure.
In essence, there are many reasons to be optimistic about this Chelsea squad, but significant challenges also remain. With Champions League football on the horizon, manager Enzo Maresca won`t have the luxury of rotating the squad as extensively as he did in the Conference League, where he frequently deployed almost entirely different lineups. This will mean more minutes for key players, potentially reducing the `freshness` advantage Chelsea often held in the CWC compared to less-rotated opponents. Further transfer activity is also anticipated, with Noni Madueke potentially leaving, but the confidence gained from this tournament is immeasurably valuable.
Players themselves spoke about how their confidence grew with each win, strengthening their belief in the team and driving them towards victory. However, for a club with Chelsea`s historical stature, this cannot be the ceiling. Captain Reece James offered his reflections after the match, following his own strong performance in midfield.
“Today demonstrated how much our club has progressed,” James commented. “We`ve endured challenging years outside the Champions League, and this was undoubtedly the toughest test we faced. We might have had some luck with the draws earlier in the competition, but today we were up against the best team. We knew it would be tough, but I was confident the team was ready, and I think we showed that.”
James` career has unfortunately mirrored some of Chelsea`s recent struggles due to significant time missed through injuries. However, the benefit of having a larger squad means he can be rotated more effectively, ensuring his availability for crucial matches like this one. Managing player fitness will be key to Chelsea`s performance next season, as will resolving their goalkeeping situation. While links to Milan keeper Mike Maignan before the Club World Cup didn`t lead to a transfer, Robert Sanchez delivered a standout performance in the final, making six vital saves and demonstrating his capabilities.
Decisions regarding squad composition and tactics will ultimately determine Chelsea`s trajectory throughout the season. Nevertheless, this success in a knockout tournament provides valuable momentum. Knowing they can secure consecutive wins against difficult opponents while adapting their game plan is a critical takeaway. The next major test for the Blues will be demonstrating this capability over two legs in the Champions League knockout stages, should they advance past the league phase. While the current squad setup might not immediately suggest a Premier League title challenge next season, they are clearly moving in a positive direction. Establishing a consistent leading striker, be it João Pedro or Liam Delap, would significantly accelerate Chelsea`s return to the top. But even without that position immediately settled, the Club World Cup win is a clear signal that the Blues are on the right path.
