Chelsea have already pocketed over £80 million from their run in the Club World Cup, but what lies ahead against Paris Saint-Germain is far more valuable than cash or a shiny badge. This is about validation—the kind that can only be earned by toppling Europe’s most dangerous team. A win on Sunday in New Jersey wouldn’t just end a long, chaotic season — it would be the ultimate statement that Chelsea’s youth-first rebuild is working.
But let’s be honest: that’s a mountain to climb. Some say Chelsea should just aim to leave MetLife Stadium with pride intact. After all, PSG have steamrolled through the Premier League’s elite, dismantling Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Arsenal en route to Champions League glory. Their 4-0 demolition of Real Madrid was a masterclass—and if they bring that level again, the result may be inevitable.
So, is this just a free swing for Chelsea? Maybe. They’ve already secured a financial windfall, boosted their profitability and sustainability, and answered tough questions about their mentality. Thanks to visible progress, Chelsea face the European champions with no need to pin their entire self-worth on a single game.
Still, Chelsea's mantra remains clear: sustainability over short-term hype. It’s easy to forget they finished 12th in their first season under Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. Critics pounced, and chaos seemed the order of the day. But Chelsea stayed true to their plan—investing in youth, avoiding impulsive managerial shakeups, and learning from past blunders.
Take the decision to swap out Mauricio Pochettino for the tactically astute, if less experienced, Enzo Maresca. “It’s much more about tactics now,” said Malo Gusto, Chelsea’s right-back. “That’s why we’re in the final — it’s because of him.”
Forget the noise that says you need a squad of veterans. Chelsea won the Conference League last season, are back in the Champions League, and have made smart moves this summer. They’re thrilled with the work of their recruitment team—Paul Winstanley, Laurence Stewart, Sam Jewell, and Joe Shields.
Before this tournament even began, the belief was simple: get the strategy right, be patient, and the wins will come. Chelsea’s investment in data and scouting is paying off. No surprise they’re the second-youngest team at the Club World Cup — the youngest being PSG themselves. One insider called both clubs "aggressive, fresh models" for others to follow. Truth is, Chelsea were signing young stars long before PSG joined the party.
That said, PSG are further ahead. They’ve sprinkled in just the right amount of experience and have a seasoned coach in Luis Enrique. Ironically, Chelsea spoke with Enrique in April 2023 after firing Graham Potter, but ultimately went with Pochettino. Hindsight always has perfect vision. Back then, Enrique was fresh off a disappointing World Cup with Spain, and his stock wasn’t exactly sky-high.
But Chelsea aren’t dwelling on what-ifs. They’re fully backing Maresca, whose positional-based system is finally clicking. “Most people expect PSG to win, but we don’t see it that way,” said Levi Colwill. “When you play for Chelsea, you fear no one. I’m sure PSG will be wary of our attackers.”
Colwill admitted PSG’s relentless pressing will be a real test. Will Chelsea stick to their philosophy and play out from the back? “You have to respect how they press, but we’re not going to change everything for one match,” Colwill insisted. “We’ve gotten this far playing our football, so why switch it up now?”
Still, facing the likes of Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, and Kvara Kvaratskhelia on the break is no joke. Maresca won’t park the bus—that would betray the identity Chelsea are building. But they’ll need to play smart. Can Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo cope in midfield without help? Will Roméo Lavia’s potential absence hurt their build-up against PSG’s high press? Can they contain Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes marauding down the flanks?
The New Jersey heat could turn the match into a basketball-style shootout. Chelsea must stay composed.
But let’s not forget: Chelsea have weapons too. Cole Palmer is a spark plug, while Pedro Neto and Liam Delap bring serious counter-attacking firepower. João Pedro stunned everyone with two wonder goals against Fluminense. Both Fernández and Caicedo are firing on all cylinders.
At a FIFA tactical session, Roberto Martínez remarked that the best way to beat PSG is by going man-to-man and exploiting their high defensive line. Even Bayern Munich caused PSG problems in the quarter-finals—though they still lost. The catch? You have to be flawless. One slip, and PSG break through like a hot knife through butter.
Chelsea know they’re up against the world’s best team—a side that dismantled Inter Milan in the Champions League final. Logic says this final goes PSG’s way. But Chelsea don’t deal in logic. Imagine entering next season as world champions. That’s the kind of fuel Chelsea’s project could thrive on.
As the underdogs, Chelsea will also be without Noni Madueke, who’s set to join Arsenal for £52 million. Bournemouth are sealing a £25 million deal for keeper Djordje Petrovic, while AC Milan want Nicolas Jackson, though affording him seems unlikely.
“Noni is in talks with a new club,” Maresca confirmed. “He made the decision. No one forced him. If he’s happy, we’re happy.”
Lavia missed training on Friday, and Caicedo is still a doubt with an ankle knock. “Moisés is key for us,” said Maresca. “He trained today but couldn’t finish the session. We’re hopeful for Sunday.”
Asked if Chelsea would be forced to suffer long spells without the ball, Maresca pushed back hard.
“Who said that?” he fired back. “They’re a top team, the best in the world, but every match is unique. We’ll give it everything to put on a great performance.”