At MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Chelsea delivered a performance designed to rapidly overwhelm their opponent, mirroring a style recently perfected by Paris Saint-Germain. Utilizing the flanks effectively, Chelsea players exploited opportunities, catching PSG off guard and netting early goals that effectively sealed the match before halftime. This aggressive, quick-scoring approach mirrored how Paris Saint-Germain had previously dominated opponents like Inter in the Champions League final and Real Madrid in their Club World Cup semifinal. On Sunday, however, Chelsea turned the tables, deploying similar tactics to defeat PSG and claim the inaugural expanded Club World Cup title.
“Going into the game, we set the tone right away,” Chelsea`s Levi Colwill commented after the match. “We pressed them intensely. We knew this was our final match of the season, and I wasn`t going on holiday thinking I could have given more. I told everyone we had to give everything, and the scoreline reflects that effort, which is why we won today.”
Chelsea`s mindset echoed PSG`s high-octane style that had made them arguably Europe`s most exciting team over the past six months, leading to their first Champions League title and making them favorites for the Club World Cup. However, they quickly got a taste of their own medicine near New York City. PSG players appeared fatigued early as Chelsea took control, going down 2-0 within the first half-hour thanks to two goals from Cole Palmer, and conceding a third before the break scored by Joao Pedro. Exhaustion set in quickly for PSG, with individual players visibly struggling as victory slipped away. Frustration also emerged, highlighted by Joao Neves` red card in the 89th minute and a post-match altercation involving PSG manager Luis Enrique and Chelsea`s Joao Pedro.
“I believe PSG is a team you must press high, or you will face significant trouble because they possess so many talented players,” Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca stated post-match. “If you allow them time to link up and control the ball, they are so effective that, in my opinion, giving them space makes your situation worse.”
Chelsea, however, added their own strategic twist. In a contest between two sides that prefer possession, the Blues were content to concede the ball to PSG, finishing with just 34% possession. Despite this, their attacking plan was highly effective – they managed 10 shots compared to PSG`s eight and achieved an expected goals (xG) total of 2.06 against the opponent`s 0.53. The intense first-half performance largely completed their mission, setting the stage for a more controlled second half.
“They play with three midfielders,” Maresca explained regarding PSG`s setup. “Two of them [Neves and Fabian Ruiz] were assigned to mark Reece [James] and Moises [Caicedo]. Vitinha was responsible for Enzo [Fernandez]. Analyzing them, we identified an opportunity to exploit space, and we used Cole [Palmer] and Malo [Gusto] on that side to create overloads. That was simply the game plan.”
Setting the aggressive tone, as Colwill mentioned, was vital to the success of Maresca`s strategy.
“The idea was to go man-to-man,” Maresca confirmed. “I think PSG are so good that if you give them time, you will struggle. In my personal opinion, you have to press them very intensely. I believe we managed this effectively in the first 10 minutes. Ideally, we would do that for 90 or 95 minutes, but we knew the weather conditions made it impossible to sustain for that long. Still, we aimed to be very aggressive, deny them time, and then in possession, we had some excellent moments. We exploited the planned spaces, and it worked very well.”
It was hardly surprising that Cole Palmer, the Blues` standout player this season, delivered in such a crucial match. The England international has developed a knack for performing in major moments and is clearly at the top of the depth chart among Chelsea`s many attackers vying for playing time. The pleasant surprise was how naturally Joao Pedro fit in alongside Palmer. Less than two weeks prior, Joao Pedro was still a Brighton & Hove Albion player, but he now has three goals in three appearances for Chelsea, earning a starting spot in the final over Liam Delap, who had featured more prominently earlier in the tournament.
Maresca has praised Joao Pedro for his adaptability, noting his ability to play multiple positions across the front line. However, his skill in making an impact against well-organized defenses is quickly making him a favorite with the manager.
“Joao is an amazing player,” Maresca said. “We can really utilize him effectively against teams that defend with a low block and little space because he is exceptionally good in tight areas.”
The long-term vision for this version of Chelsea hasn`t always been crystal clear, and a year after Maresca`s appointment, the complexities of roster construction remain significant three years after BlueCo acquired the club and Todd Boehly became chairman. Even amidst this flux, Chelsea`s Club World Cup victory offered a compelling glimpse of their potential when performing at their peak – suggesting that their belief in a group of emerging talents is indeed well-founded. But first, a well-deserved break is necessary.
“I think throughout this season, we were progressing in the right direction, and we finished our season very strongly, lifting this fantastic trophy,” Maresca concluded. “Regarding the future, fortunately, I have three weeks of vacation now, which is exactly what I need. It`s been 15 months non-stop, and then we will see what the next season brings.”
