Classy Chelsea shock PSG and the world to be crowned best side on the planet

It was meant to be the moment Paris Saint-Germain were crowned world champions to add to their European dominance. The time to confirm a French football revolution and a new era of domination for a European giant.

But Chelsea had other ideas, doing to PSG what the French side have done to so many other sides this season to be crowned the Club World Cup Champions with an empathic 3-0 victory .

The young Premier League outfit stunned their opponents from the first minute, setting a high tempo on and off the ball, which the French side failed to live with.

Superior Player of the Match Cole Palmer almost had his side 1-0 before five minutes, curling just wide from the edge of the box.

 

PSG failed to learn their lesson and close down the England man, much to their cost, as the 23-year-old struck two stunning and similar goals before the 30 minute mark to put the London club in full control.

With captain Reece James in midfield, Chelsea's intensity and pressing was off the charts, not allowing the French midfield three any time to sit on the ball and dictate play. 

As PSG stuttered and struggled for ideas, Joao Pedro secured the contest on the stroke of half time with his third goal in two starts for his new club.

In front over 81,000 fans at the MetLife Stadium, Luis Enrique's side came out stronger in the second period in a desperate bid to find a way back into the contest.

When they did find a way through, they were thwarted by a fine keeping display by Robert Sánchez in the Blues net.

Sub Liam Delap could have made it four before full time, but was denied twice by fine Gianluigi Donnarumma stops, before PSG's terrible day was wrapped up with a late red card for João Neves for pulling Marc Cucurella's hair.

After bagging the Club World Cup, to add to their Europa Conference League title and a top four Premier League finish, the question now is just how good can his youthful Chelsea side become and how far can they go?

The future is exciting, the future is Blue... 

Chelsea 3-0 Paris Saint-Germain full highlights

Maresca gets it spot on

It is funny to look back 12 months and see how many questions were being asked of Chelsea's appointment of Enzo Maresca.

The Italian had just guided Leicester City back to the Premier League from the Championship in his first managerial role. However he lacked any experience managing in the English top flight and despite his success at the Foxes, not everyone was impressed with his style of play.

The Pep disciple and former assistant at Manchester City had a lot to prove — and prove it he has.

Chelsea already have a Champions League place secured for next season and the Conference League title in the bag. And Maresca's now guided his young side to a major piece of history, becoming the first winners of the Club World Cup in its new expanded era.

But it is not just the success that now makes his appointment looks such an intelligent one. It is the way he has done it, shaping and guiding a young group of players into a well drilled, tight, formidable team. 

That showed in Sunday's final, along with the tactics he got spot on. By playing Reece James in midfield, Chelsea used the England man's speed and energy to close down the PSG midfield three deep in their own half, not allowing them to settle and get the ball to their top three.

That negated the Parisians' ability to put their own stamp on the match, as they usually look to impose a suffocating press against their opposition and pounce on the inevitable mistakes that follow.

In effect, Chelsea "out PSGed" PSG.

Palmer himself pointed post-match to his manager's intelligent tactics as the reason for their victory.

Speaking live on DAZN, Palmer said: "The gaffer put a great game plan out, he knew why the spaces would be and he tried to free me up as much as possible.

"I had to pay him back by scoring some goals and I'm delighted I could do that."

Maresca outthought Luis Enrique and his team outfought PSG, and the spoils went their way against the odds.

World class Palmer back here in a year?

With the World Cup final being held next July in the same country, in the same stadium, you have to wonder if Cole Palmer will be back here again in 12 months - England fans will hope so.

The 23-year-old had a solid tournament without being at his incredible, stunning best - until Sunday, that is. Big games need big players and this was the moment Palmer formally announced himself as a world class star on the global stage.

If anyone didn't know about Palmer before, or was unsure of just how good he really was, then they all know now.

 

He terrorised PSG from the opening whistle with his attacking intent, and actually gave the French outfit an early warning when he curled a shot wide from the edge of the box within the first five minutes, narrowly missing the target.

The Parisians didn't take note and were punished, with Palmer hitting two scintillating finishes to put Chelsea in control before a beautiful through-ball to Joao Pedro for the third Chelsea goal before the half-time break.

In an interview with DAZN before the final, Palmer admitted frustration at going through a bad patch earlier this season. But he's peaked at the right time and shown the world he has everything in his locker to be the very best.

He was named the Superior Player of the Final and then awarded the Player of the Tournament trophy to round off another incredible month and season for the youngster, who only completed his second full season at the senior level.

If he takes this big stage form into the World Cup next season, he could be the man to finally drive England to World success.

Steady Sanchez sees it out

The winning goalkeeper doesn't often get much credit when his team are rampant the way Chelsea were on Sunday, but Robert Sanchez answered the call when needed to ensure the result remained out of doubt.

Luis Enrique had to throw everything at it in the second half and that they did. While they never got to their cutting edge best, they did find ways through a tiring Chelsea defence.

But when they did, Sanchez, so often criticised, was in unbeatable form, making a host of top class saves to halt any notion of a dramatic comeback.

Getty Images

The Spaniard's fine day was rounded off by receiving the Golden Glove award for the competition's best goalkeeper.

With the riches winning the Club World Cup have brought - almost £100m - Chelsea are expected to go out and buy a new first-choice keeper this summer.

However Sanchez demonstrated he will not give up his number one spot without a fight.

And, if this is the end for him at Chelsea, it is not a bad way to go out - as a world champion

PSG not the finished product yet

One defeat should not take away from the stunning season Paris Saint-Germain have undergone or their potential to dominate European football for the foreseeable future. 

However, Sunday's final was a reminder that with a young squad, Luis Enrique still has work to do to craft them into the complete team, with the mental resilience to find ways to win when being outplayed, while consistently being able to hit the very highest levels, as the greatest clubs before them have achieved.

 PSG captain Marquinhos admitted the final showed they still have work to do.

"Tactically, they made things difficult for us," Marquinhos told DAZN post-match. "We were slow to react. These are things we're going to work on for the future.

"All the teams will be looking at us from now on. It's up to us to be at the top of our game."

DAZN

At the final whistle, Chelsea's celebrations were interrupted by a fight between the two squads, as PSG's player emotions split over - they clearly do not like losing. It is how Enrique uses that anger to shape and motivate his side to improve next season.

Watching those fiery scenes at the end of the match, you wonder if we are seeing the start of a new club rivalry.

Two clubs with clever, passionate managers of youngful sides, still developing, with bucket loads of cash to spend to further improve. We could be seeing Chelsea and PSG clash in many more finals in the future.

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