The World will not forget Sunday, July 13, 2025 in a hurry because it was the day Chelsea Football Club of England humiliated European Champions League champions, Paris Saint Germain, PSG of France in the FIFA Club World Cup finals.
Before the match, many had predicted that PSG were going to give the same treatment meted on others on the English team.
Recalled that before getting to the final of the just-concluded FIFA Club World Cup which took place in the United States of America, USA, PSG defeated Atletico Madrid 4-0, Bayer Munich 2-0 and Real Madrid by 4-0 respectively.
Before then, they walloped Inter Milan 5-0 in the final of the UEFA Champions League. They also defeated Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal on their way to the final.
Many people have predicted that they were going to add Chelsea to the numbers of English teams that they have defeated but unfortunately for them, they met their Waterloo, they were not only beaten but got battered and shattered. Chelsea were able to save English teams from the harassment, embarrassment and humiliation of PSG.
The scenario can well be described as David saving Israelites from harassment and embarrassment from Goliath. Of course, before the final, Chelsea was an underdog when one compared their performance in the English Premier League and their inability to qualify to play in the UEFA champions league while PSG on the other hand swept every trophy in France and that of the UEFA Champions League.
Meanwhile, many are still wondering what magic wand Chelsea used to defeat the “almighty” dominating PSG, that looked unstoppable.
Well, actually the two teams, Chelsea and PSG play compact football. They don’t allow their opponents breathing space, especially when they lose the ball, they ensure that they retrieve the ball immediately and they play very fast football when they are with the ball.
However, one thing going for PSG is that they are very clinical in front of goal and that was what Bayer Munich lacked. Bayer played better but their inability to convert their goals caused them the semi-final match, PSG on the other hand are good at that hence their ability to defeat every team and another thing is that they have so many players that can score goals hence it was difficult to pin down any particular player.
Another thing going for PSG was that they have young players that can do the running from one end to another but unfortunately for them, Chelsea paraded the youngest players in their team hence they were able to match PSG with their pace.
Also, PSG paraded one of the best midfields in the World hence they were able to run down any team. They defeated Real Madrid because they didn’t have the midfield in that game. Probably, the new coach, Xabi Alonso was trying to experiment with new sets of players with new roles. If he had stuck with the players used by former coach, Carlo Ancellotti, it would have been a different ball game.
Botafogo and Chelsea were able to beat PSG because they were able to match them man-to-man and their players were tactically disciplined.
Also, PSG does not like physical football. Most coaches who played for Barcelona during their playing days don’t like physical football hence the type of players they go for. Chelsea is known for physical football and some of the coaches who handled the team without physical players didn’t do well.
Even PSG player, Marquinhos admitted that Chelsea were too physical for them and because they are not used to it, they resorted to fighting even after the match.
Marquinhos admitted to DAZN that Chelsea were in far better physical shape than them and that was the deciding factor in the final.
He said: “Tactically, they made things difficult for us. We were slow to react. These are things we’re going to work on for the future.
Lastly, research has shown that Barcelona players-turned coaches are not defence cautious. They believe that the best form of defence is attack hence they don’t concentrate too much on their defence that is why Jordi Alba, a left back can go and score. We saw it in Manchester City team managed by Pep Guardiola and also in Luis Enrique PSG team where Hakimi plays more like a winger.
Chelsea coach, Enzo Maresca must have studied the PSG team for him to have won the match. He ensured that supply was not getting to their key player, Dembele. Caicedo was very instrumental in the Chelsea team. While Gusto and Cucurela frustrated the duo of Doue and Kvarale. Hakimi was also kept quiet all through and substituted for the first time after a long time not because of injury but for ineffectiveness.
Also, Chelsea coach capaitalised on the vulnerability of the PSG defence hence he cut off most play from the midfield and take the ball from defence straight to attack. Counter attacks were used to score two of the goals.
While PSG defence was not that solid especially with the suspension of Pacho, Chelsea defence on the other hand was rock solid hence the inability of PSG to score even a goal. Chelsea goalkeeper was also in his best form making good saves to avoid the match being taken to extra time.
With what happened to PSG, it is a testament that nobody is unbeatable and also, one lesson to learn from that match is that one should always have PLAN B in the case where the PLAN A did not work.
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