Chelsea underdog vs PSG, however 'we will win'

[ad_1] 2025 FIFA Membership World Cup Ultimate preview: Chelsea vs Paris Saint-Germain

Chelsea FC and PSG have made it to the ultimate of the Membership World Cup. Safid Deen explains what Chelsea has to do to take down the dominant Paris Saint-Germain.

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Chelsea FC coach Enzo Maresca is definitely comfortable about main his aspect to the FIFA Membership World Cup ultimate towards Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain.

Captain Reece James – the one participant remaining from Chelsea’s Champions League title in 2020-21, taking part in on this Membership World Cup – isn’t glad with simply making it this far.

At the same time as Chelsea enters as a steep underdog within the matchup with PSG on Sunday, July 13, at MetLife Stadium.

“They're one of many hottest groups on this planet for the time being. However this can be a ultimate, a one-off recreation. Everybody has them down as robust favorites,” James mentioned throughout a prematch press convention on the stadium on Friday, July 11.

“I don’t actually care, to be trustworthy. Everyone seems to be bigging up our opposition. We’re getting ready proper, and we’re going to win.”

Nicely, everyone seems to be “bigging up” Paris Saint-Germain for good motive. They’re not simply thought of the European champions. They’re thought of the most effective membership on this planet.

PSG has received the French league, the French Cup, the French Tremendous Cup and received their first Champions League title with a 5-0 victory towards Inter Milan on Might 31.

They’ve dominated by the Membership World Cup, too – exterior of a hiccup within the group stage, a 1-0 loss to Brazilian aspect Botafogo that didn’t do a lot however give them a short wake-up name en path to the ultimate.

PSG topped Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami 4-0 within the Spherical of 16, beat Bayern Munich 2-0 within the quarterfinals, and thrashed Actual Madrid 4-0 within the semifinal to achieve Sunday’s match. Chelsea’s path noticed a 4-1 win towards Benfica (Portugal) within the Spherical of 16, a 2-1 quarterfinal win towards Palmeiras (Brazil), and a 2-0 win towards Fluminense (Brazil) within the semifinals.

Chelsea was a +450 underdog on Wednesday, July 8, when the ultimate was set. Simply two days earlier than it, Chelsea is +400 to win, whereas PSG is the convincing favourite (-165), in keeping with BETMGM.

“Stats and information. And favourite, not favourite. It doesn’t imply something to me. It doesn’t imply something to our staff. It makes different individuals comfortable,” James mentioned. “It’s two nice, younger sides, taking part in towards one another on the largest stage. I imagine we’re going to go toe to toe.”

Added Maresca: “PSG is greatest staff in world … We're right here to do our greatest and attempt to win the ultimate.”

Win or lose, Chelsea nonetheless has lots to have fun this season.

Chelsea certified for subsequent yr’s Champions League, ending a three-year absence from event, after a fourth-place end within the Premier League in Maresca’s first yr with the membership.

Maresca was employed in June 2024 to take over for Mauricio Pochettino (now, the U.S. males’s nationwide staff coach), who led Chelsea to a sixth-place end within the EPL final season.

Maresca mentioned his gamers really feel “proud” and "comfortable” to achieve the Membership World Cup ultimate within the first version of this event that featured 32 of the most effective soccer groups globally. He additionally feels the identical method, as his first yr as Chelsea coach will finish with an opportunity to win a title.

“I feel it’s been an awesome season. For me, the largest achievement for this season is precisely one yr in the past, nobody was speaking about Chelsea,” Maresca mentioned.

“Now, everyone seems to be speaking about Chelsea, the best way we play, and the best way we win video games. That is personally the largest achievement of the season.”