Club World Cup Final: Can Chelsea Stop World’s Best PSG?

Paris Saint-Germain’s dismantling of Inter Milan in the Champions League final at the end of May felt like the end.

The end of the Parisians’ quest to reach European glory, the end of years of disappointment on the continental stage the Qatari Sports Investments did not foresee would last for as long as they did when it purchased the club back in 2011.

This, at last, was a case of mission accomplished. For all the 36 domestic trophies that PSG lifted in the past 14 years, winning the Champions League was what really mattered.

But the 5-0 thrashing of Inter - the biggest margin of victory in the history of the Champions League final, both in its current guise and under the old European Cup format - also felt like the beginning.

The beginning of an era in which PSG are no longer content with competing for continental trophies, but want to be seen as the dominant force in European football.

In that respect, the Club World Cup has only enhanced their credentials.

The newly-crowned Champions League winners arrive into Sunday’s final against Chelsea on the back of trouncing Real Madrid 4-0 in the semi-final at MetLife Stadium on Wednesday.

Two goals to the good with just nine minutes on the clock, PSG carved the Spanish giants wide open again in the 24th minute, Achraf Hakimi charging down the wing to set up a stunning finish from Fabian Ruiz.

By the time Goncalo Ramos made 4-0 late in the game, Kylian Mbappe cut a forlorn figure in the East Rutherford heat.

Mbappe, of course, was the man tasked with deliver the Champions League trophy PSG so dearly wanted from the moment he moved to the Parc des Princes weeks after Neymar’s arrival in Paris.

Signed for €222m ($260m) from Barcelona, the Brazilian remains the most expensive footballer in history, with Mbappe a close second after PSG paid Monaco €180m ($210m).

When Lionel Messi joined the duo in 2021, a Champions League triumph appeared fate accompli for PSG.

It was anything but. As domestic trophies continued to arrive with processional regularity, European football’s biggest prize remained elusive.

Neymar and Messi left in 2023, Mbappe followed suit last summer.

PSG are a ruthless machine under Luis Enrique

In their absence, Luis Enrique has pivoted away from the glitz and glamour and made PSG a far more coherent and cohesive team.

Ousmane Dembele has scored 35 goals and registered 16 assists in all competitions this season after netting just six last term.

But his work rate has been just as important to Luis Enrique’s plans as his goals. The same goes for Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, the two wingers who play either side of Dembele.

“It’s the collective effort,” Ruiz told reporters after PSG dispatched Madrid.

“We have excellent players, but without the collective, we are not much.”

PSG’s only hiccup in the US came as they lost 1-0 to Botafogo in their second group game, either side of thrashing Atletico Madrid 4-0 and beating Seattle Sounders 2-0. Inter Miami were thrashed 4-0 in the Round of 16, before a comfortable 2-0 win over Bayern Munich set up the semi-final against Real Madrid.

If PSG are a perfectly oiled, relentless machine, Chelsea appear to exist in a perpetual state of chaos.

And yet, victory at MetLife Stadium on Sunday would see Enzo Maresca become the first Blues manager to win two trophies in his first season since Roberto Di Matteo lifted the FA Cup and the Champions League in 2012.

Like PSG, Chelsea’s only blip came in the second group stage game, when they lost 3-1 to Flamengo.

Los Angeles FC and Esperance Tunis were comfortably dealt with, Benfica were dispatched 4-1 in extra time in the Round of 16, before a 2-1 victory over Palmeiras and a 2-0 win over Fluminense followed in the next two rounds.

Can Chelsea win a second trophy this season?

While some clubs appeared to treat the Club World Cup like a hindrance, the Blues have never made a mystery of their desire to succeed in FIFA’s latest jamboree.

Much as in the Europa Conference League in May, their persistence could be about to be rewarded.

“We are very happy, very proud to play the final on Sunday,” Maresca said after Chelsea made light work of Fluminense in the semi-final on Tuesday.

“The reason why is because this is the first edition of the Club World Cup. The best clubs in the world are here. For us to be in the final is something to be proud of.

“I know how difficult it is with all the games. Premier League top four, we won the Conference League and now a final here – it is fantastic.”

Were they to win the final, Chelsea, who finished fourth in the Premier League, would pocket around £80m ($108m) in prize money.

The reward for winning the tournament was initially estimated at £92m ($124m), but according to BBC Sport, Chelsea are entitled to less than that as the participation fee for European teams varies depending on "sporting and commercial criteria".

It would still be significant financial boost for Chelsea, who have spent north of $285m on signings this summer.

Strikers Liam Delap and Joao Pedro, who scored the opener against Fluminense in the semi-final, arrived from Ipswich Town and Brighton respectively.

“I am very happy for Joao,” Maresca said of the Brazilian.

“He has quality to decide the game like today. We know he is a good player against teams that defend deep.

Winger Jamie Gittens signed from Borussia Dortmund, while fellow forward Estevao will join from Palmeiras, whom Chelsea beat in the quarter-finals, once the tournament is over.

Meanwhile, Dario Essugo and Mamadou Sarr have signed from Portuguese giants Sporting and Ligue 1 club Strasbourg.

Chelsea sweat on Moises Caicedo’s fitness

But for all the new signings at Maresca’s disposal, the key to beat PSG may rest with Moises Caicedo, who joined from Brighton for £115m ($155m) two years ago.

Chelsea’s second-most expensive ever after teammate Enzo Fernandez, Caicedo returned to training on Thursday after recovering from an ankle injury he suffered against Fluminense and should be available to face the European champions on Sunday.

The Blues desperately need the Ecuadorian to be fit if they are to disrupt PSG’s outstanding midfield trio of Vitinha, João Neves and Ruiz.

At the same time, Maresca is no stranger to rotate his squad and has used 27 players in the Club World Cup, the most of any team in the tournament.

Ahead of the semi-final, the Chelsea manager complained about the amount of games his team have played this season - Sunday will be Chelsea’s 64th match, with the start of the Premier League season just over a month away.

"Our players last had one month holiday in June 2024,” he said.

"It is a huge difference — so the weather conditions plus the difference of calendar make the levels in the team [from various continents] very close.”

Beat PSG on Sunday and Maresca and Chelsea will have earned a well deserved holiday.