In the inaugural final of the expanded Club World Cup, held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Chelsea faced formidable opponents Paris Saint-Germain. PSG, fresh off a dominant Champions League victory and a comprehensive semi-final win against Real Madrid, entered the match as clear favourites, known for their electrifying, high-intensity start that often overwhelmed teams early.
Yet, what unfolded was a masterclass in tactical adaptation, with Chelsea effectively turning PSG`s own celebrated strengths against them. Instead of sitting deep, the Blues adopted a fearless, high-pressing approach from the first whistle, mirroring the aggressive style that had defined PSG`s recent success. Chelsea defender Levi Colwill articulated the team`s mindset post-match: “Going into the game straightaway, we set the tone… We pressed the life out of them. We knew this was our last game… we went and gave everything.”
This relentless pressure caught PSG by surprise. Their usual rapid start was stifled, and they quickly appeared fatigued as Chelsea seized control. The tactical plan yielded immediate dividends. Cole Palmer, Chelsea`s established talisman, continued his habit of delivering in crucial moments, netting a brace before the half-hour mark. Joao Pedro, a surprisingly impactful new signing from Brighton, added a third before halftime. By the halftime whistle, the contest, remarkably, felt decided, with Chelsea leading 3-0.
Manager Enzo Maresca elaborated on the strategic rationale: “I think that PSG are a team that, you either press them high or you`ll be in trouble because they have so many talented players… if you give them time, then you`ll be worse off.” While traditionally a team that prefers to control possession, Chelsea willingly ceded the ball, ending with just 34% possession. The focus was on offensive efficiency and disrupting PSG`s rhythm. This was reflected in the expected goals (xG) statistics: Chelsea posted 2.06 xG compared to PSG`s 0.53, highlighting the quality of Chelsea`s attacking opportunities despite having less of the ball.
Maresca revealed further tactical details, explaining how they targeted specific spaces: “They have three midfielders… Analyzing them, we saw that was a good opportunity to exploit that space and we used Cole and Malo [Gusto] in that side to create a little bit and overloaded that side.” The early intense pressing, though difficult to maintain for 90 minutes, was crucial in establishing dominance and building the decisive lead.
Beyond Palmer`s expected heroics, the emergence of Joao Pedro was a key storyline. Having only recently joined the club, he quickly found his footing, scoring his third goal in as many games for Chelsea. Maresca praised the forward`s versatility and effectiveness, particularly against defensively compact teams: “Joao… is an amazing player… We can really use him with teams that defend in a very low block with no spaces because he`s really good in tight spaces.” His ability to impact the final, earning a start over other options, underscores his rapid integration and value.
For a club often described as navigating a period of transition and squad reassembly under its current ownership, the Club World Cup victory provides a compelling validation of their approach. It demonstrated the potential of a squad built around rising talents when the tactics are sharp and the execution is clinical. The win offers a glimpse of what this Chelsea side can achieve at its best.
As the final whistle blew, confirming Chelsea`s triumph, the fatigue of a long season was palpable, both on the field and, humorously, in the manager`s post-match thoughts. Maresca acknowledged the significance of the trophy, stating, “we ended our season very well and now we lifted this trophy, a fantastic trophy.” But when pressed on the future, his immediate focus was clear: “About the future, fortunately, I have three weeks` vacation now because that`s all I want. It`s been 15 months nonstop.” A well-deserved break now awaits the squad and their manager, who perhaps earned his holiday more than most after this particular tactical triumph.
