Palmer's Masterclass Destroys PSG as Chelsea Claim Club World Cup Glory
Chelsea stunned the football world by completely overwhelming Paris Saint-Germain, delivering a commanding 3-0 victory over the Champions League titleholders in the Club World Cup final.
The London side entered as significant underdogs, but that narrative was swiftly rewritten following an extraordinary opening 45 minutes. Cole Palmer proved unstoppable, terrorizing PSG's backline and netting twice within the first half-hour.
Just before the interval, Palmer expertly assisted João Pedro, who delicately lobbed Gianluigi Donnarumma to register his third goal in three Chelsea appearances.
Enzo Maresca's team maintained complete control throughout the second period, never permitting PSG to establish any rhythm and comfortably securing victory. This represented the finest display during the Todd Bohely-Clearlake Capital ownership period, as Chelsea rediscovered their championship form to claim the inaugural expanded Club World Cup trophy.
Key observations from the encounter follow.
Cole Palmer: Elite Performer on the Biggest Stage
From the opening whistle at MetLife Stadium, Palmer established himself as the match's outstanding performer.
The 23-year-old England star dominated the first half proceedings. His opening strike was a masterpiece of precision, finding the bottom corner with clinical accuracy. Within ten minutes, he repeated the feat.
Palmer challenged Vitinha while cutting in from the right flank, using clever body movement to completely deceive both the Portuguese midfielder and Lucas Beraldo, creating the necessary space to mirror his earlier finish and complete his double. Before the break, Palmer provided the assist for Pedro's third goal.
This was a mesmerizing display from Chelsea's star performer, cementing his reputation as one of football's premier big-match players. Palmer has now contributed seven goals or assists across six finals in his professional career.
Palmer became only the third Chelsea player this century to score twice in a final, joining club icons Didier Drogba and Eden Hazard. Despite the Club World Cup pressure and intense New Jersey temperatures, Palmer remained composed and clinical.
Enzo Maresca's Tactical Brilliance
Paris Saint-Germain arrived as the widely acknowledged strongest team globally. Their high-intensity pressing combined with a dynamic, technically superior midfield trio feeding one of the season's most devastating attacks.
Maresca's tactical approach completely neutralized these threats as Chelsea dominated the European champions.
The Italian coach deployed a mid-block system that suffocated PSG's midfield operations. Reece James, Moisés Caicedo, and Enzo Fernández consistently harassed Vitinha, Fabián Ruiz, and João Neves. Additionally, they positioned themselves perfectly to block passing channels, preventing PSG's midfield from connecting with their forwards.
Maresca instructed Pedro Neto and Cole Palmer to track PSG's attacking fullbacks, denying them space to receive possession wide while supporting Malo Gusto and Marc Cucurella to avoid isolated defensive situations.
Offensively, rapid transitions and counter-attacks proved devastatingly effective. PSG had conceded merely three goals in their previous ten matches across all competitions. In the final, Chelsea scored three times against the Parisians within 43 minutes.
The Italian manager executed his game plan flawlessly, outmaneuvering Luis Enrique in a tactical battle that few coaches have managed recently.
Redemption for Chelsea's Most Scrutinized Stars
Robert Sánchez and Gusto have endured significant criticism throughout the 2024-25 campaign. In the Club World Cup final, both delivered outstanding performances in their positions.
Sánchez has received considerable criticism for inconsistent displays this season, with many questioning his ability to cope with PSG's pressing game. The Spanish goalkeeper decisively answered his critics with an exceptional showing.
Beyond Sánchez's six saves—including several spectacular stops—that secured Chelsea's clean sheet, he was crucial to their attacking strategy. His accurate long passes were vital to the Blues' offensive transitions. He orchestrated attacks from deep positions, with one such pass initiating the move leading to Chelsea's opening goal, where another heavily criticized player also proved instrumental.
Many believed Gusto's assignment to mark Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on Chelsea's right side could expose the Blues' weakness. Instead, it became a strength. Gusto completely neutralized one of Europe's most dangerous wingers, limiting him to just one shot and 23 total touches.
Offensively, Gusto excelled even further. The French defender consistently advanced to provide width, allowing Palmer to move into central areas. Gusto repeatedly outplayed Nuno Mendes, including the sequence leading to Chelsea's opener when he beat the Portuguese defender before setting up Palmer's goal.
In Chelsea's most significant match of the campaign, against Europe's premier team, their heavily criticized players delivered brilliant performances and were instrumental in securing Club World Cup success.