Despite entering Sunday’s clash at MetLife Stadium as the underdogs, Chelsea surprised the Champions League victors with an exceptional first-half showing. ..Continue Reading
Cole Palmer struck twice within eight minutes, and Chelsea’s recent recruit Pedro added a third goal just before the interval.
After halftime, Chelsea expertly shut down PSG’s attempts at a comeback, earning praise from ex-Premier League winger Andros Townsend who dubbed Maresca’s approach a “tactical masterclass.”
With frustration mounting, PSG players’ emotions spilled over as the match began slipping from their grasp.
Joao Neves was dismissed for tugging Marc Cucurella’s hair, and other PSG players flirted with potential ejections due to reckless tackles.
Tensions didn’t cool after full time, as Pedro—just two weeks into his Chelsea stint—clashed with PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Luis Enrique became part of the fray and appeared to hit Pedro, causing Chelsea’s £60 million signing to hit the turf.
The scuffle intensified, prompting one of Enrique’s staff to restrain him, while Maresca pulled his players out of the heated scene.
PSG entered the final as overwhelming favourites, having lifted their first Champions League trophy the previous season.
Chelsea, meanwhile, had competed in—and won—the Europa Conference League, marking another milestone in their resurgence.
‘It’s a great feeling,’ Palmer said after Chelsea’s Club World Cup victory. ‘Even better because everyone doubted us before the game, we knew that.
‘The gaffer put a great gameplan out. He knew where the space was going to be. He tried to free me up as much as possible and I just had to repay him and score some goals.
‘[Maresca] is building something special, something important. Everyone has talked a lot of s*** about us all season but I feel like we are going in the right direction.’
Maresca, meanwhile, said: ‘I have no words for the players. They all deserve this and it’s a good moment.
‘For me, we won the game in the first 10 minutes. We set the tempo and we were very good at pressing them. The conditions made it hard to keep going but the boys did well.
‘I am very excited [about the future] but I’m more excited that we have three weeks off.’
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