Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca stirred debate in the football world on Sunday night after boldly stating that the FIFA Club World Cup may soon eclipse the UEFA Champions League in importance. His comments came following Chelsea’s emphatic 3-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the 2025 Club World Cup final at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
“This competition features the best clubs in the world. That’s why we value it as much as the Champions League, or perhaps even more,” Maresca said in his post-match press conference. “I feel that this competition [the Club World Cup] will be as important as or even more important than the Champions League.”
Chelsea dominated the final from the opening whistle. Rising star Cole Palmer stunned PSG with two quick goals inside the first eight minutes, setting the tone for what would become a one-sided affair. Joo Pedro added a third just before halftime, effectively ending PSG’s hopes.
The French champions struggled to create meaningful chances, while Chelsea’s high-pressing, man-to-man strategy suffocated their rhythm. “The idea was to go man-to-man because if you leave spaces to PSG they will kill you,” Maresca explained. “That intensity was crucial in the first 10 minutes, especially given the scorching heat. It was really difficult conditions to play as the game progressed.”
Club World Cup Final: As it Happened
Chelsea’s tactical approach exploited PSG’s defensive weaknesses, particularly down the left flank. “We had a lot of success exploring the left side of their defence. Things worked perfectly for us due to the effort the players put in,” said the Italian coach.
The match ended on a sour note for PSG when Joo Neves was sent off in the 84th minute for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair, adding to their frustration. Chelsea nearly extended their lead through Liam Delap, who had two close chances late in the game.
Maresca, who was part of Manchester City’s coaching staff when they won the Champions League three years ago, used his experience to underscore the growing stature of the Club World Cup.
“I was lucky enough to be part of a coaching staff [at Manchester City] that won the Champions League three years ago,” he said. “But this tournament brings together the champions from every continent-it’s truly global. That makes it special.”
For Chelsea, the victory not only marks continental supremacy but also global recognition. “For us, it was a great triumph,” Maresca concluded. “Allowing Chelsea fans to wear that world champion patch on their shirts is a source of pride for us.”
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