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

SportsMoney World Cup Final: Can Chelsea Stop World’s Best PSG

ByDan Cancian, Contributor

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights

Dan is a London-based sports journalist who covers European football

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 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 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

MORE FOR YOU 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 der 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

As domestic trophies continued to arrive with cessional regularity, European football’s biggest prize remained elusive

PSG are a ruthless machine under Luis EnriqueEAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JULY 09: Ousmane Dembele #10 of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates scoring

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

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 ed in the next two rounds

Can Chelsea win a second trophy this season

WROCLAW, POLAND - MAY 28: Reece James of Chelsea lifts the UEFA Conference League trophy after his

Much as in the Europa Conference League in May, their persistence could be to be rewarded. “We are very happy, very ud 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 World Cup

The best s in the world are here

For us to be in the final is something to be ud of. “I know how difficult it is with all the games

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"

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 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 Strasbourg

Chelsea sweat on Moises Caicedo’s fitnessEAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JULY 8: Moises Caicedo of Chelsea looks on during the FIFA World

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 World Cup, the most of any team in the tournament

Ahead of the semi-final, the Chelsea manager complained 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

Editorial StandardsRes & PermissionsLOADING PLAYER.