Enzo Maresca capped a historic first season at Chelsea in style, following up his UEFA Conference League triumph with a commanding victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. After securing the title in the first revamped edition of the tournament, the Italian manager shared a final message: “We won the game in the first 10 minutes.”
For the starting XI, Maresca made a bold tactical decision by deploying Reece James in a pivot role alongside Moises Caicedo, while pushing Enzo Fernandez further up the pitch as a central forward to apply high pressure. Chelsea flipped the script on PSG, dominating possession early and forcing Luis Enrique’s side into costly mistakes while trying to build from the back.
The result was a stunning 3–0 win for Chelsea, with all three goals coming in the first half. Speaking to DAZN post-match, Maresca praised his team’s execution and intensity: “I’ve got no words for the players. They deserved it. It’s a good moment.”
Maresca then offered insight into the moment he knew the match was theirs. “For me, we won the game in the first 10 minutes. In the first 10 minutes we set the tempo, we set the way we wanted to play, we were very good there. Unfortunately, with the weather condition, it’s not easy to continue like this for 90 minutes, but I think we won the game in the first 10 minutes,” the coach stated.
When asked about what comes next, Maresca answered with a smile: “Very excited. I think I’m more excited now that we have three weeks off.” While Cole Palmer’s opener came in the 22nd minute, the manager believed the tone and energy his players set early on were enough to take control and seal the title at MetLife Stadium.
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Maresca on Cole Palmer’s performances in finals
Among the tournament’s standout stars, Cole Palmer once again stole the show. With two goals and two assists in the final, the 23-year-old earned the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. When asked about Palmer’s impact, Maresca was clear in his assessment.
“Yeah, absolutely. Today we found a position for him where he could exploit space,” the manager explained. “Not only for Cole, but the effort from all the players has been fantastic.”
At just 23, Palmer already has a remarkable résumé in finals. He’s scored in the 2023 UEFA Super Cup with Manchester City, netted in the UEFA EURO 2024 with England, and contributed two assists in the Conference League final. Now with two goals and an assist in the Club World Cup final, Palmer has directly contributed to seven goals in the six finals he’s played in—an elite record for a rising star.
