Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca is confident his team can overcome the “best team in the world” in the Club World Cup final and stop Paris Saint-Germain from completing a clean sweep by winning the first edition of FIFA's expanded competition.
PSG entered the competition as the overwhelming favourites after their maiden Champions League triumph last month where they crushed Inter Milan 5-0.
PSG have been in scintillating form, winning seven of their last eight matches without conceding a single goal. Luis Enrique's side showcased their high-pressing, fast-paced, vertical style to devastating effect in a 4-0 demolition of Real Madrid in the semi-finals.
Buoyed by midfield orchestrator Vitinha, fullbacks Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi and Ballon d’Or contender Ousmane Dembele – with crucial goals and assists – up front, PSG are the team to beat. And Maresca knows it.
“For sure they are a top team in Europe and probably in this moment the best team in the world,” Maresca said at the MetLife Stadium, where Sunday's final will take place.
“But I think every game can be different. We have maximum respect for them. I really enjoy watching them but at the same time we are here to do our best and try to win the final.”
Chelsea eliminated Benfica and Brazilian duo Palmeiras and Fluminense in the knockout rounds to reach the final at the end of a marathon campaign.
Maresca, who arrived from Leicester City last year, has already led the Stamford Bridge side to a fourth-place finish in the Premier League which brings with it qualification for next season's Champions League.
In addition to that they won the Uefa Conference League, and now they have a chance to win more silverware.
“It has been a great season, and for me the biggest achievement of this season is that exactly one year ago nobody was talking about Chelsea to do with football – it was all about having a big squad and big money, that kind of thing,” Maresca said.
“Now nobody is talking about this – everyone is talking about Chelsea, the way we play, the way we win games, and this personally is the biggest achievement.”
PSG aim for clean sweep
PSG boss Luis Enrique has urged his team of stars to cap their glorious season with victory on Sunday.
The French side are on the brink of an extraordinary quintuple having won the Champions League as well as three domestic trophies during the 2024-25 campaign.
PSG's success has come without reliance on stellar individuals, with the club having moved away from their past policy of big-name signings to focus on the collective strength of the group.
“There are 11 stars in this team – we don't just want one,” said Luis Enrique.
“That is what we have and I would say it's not 11 but 13, 14, 15. That is something we have put together to make the team the star.
“We are heading into the last game of the season with very good vibes and it is important for us to finish this historic season in the best way possible.
“It has been sensational from my players, they have been incredible throughout the year. We have made history and want to keep going.”
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
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Company%20Profile
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Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
PROFILE OF CURE.FIT
Started: July 2016
Founders: Mukesh Bansal and Ankit Nagori
Based: Bangalore, India
Sector: Health & wellness
Size: 500 employees
Investment: $250 million
Investors: Accel, Oaktree Capital (US); Chiratae Ventures, Epiq Capital, Innoven Capital, Kalaari Capital, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Piramal Group’s Anand Piramal, Pratithi Investment Trust, Ratan Tata (India); and Unilever Ventures (Unilever’s global venture capital arm)
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Tank warfare
Lt Gen Erik Petersen, deputy chief of programs, US Army, has argued it took a “three decade holiday” on modernising tanks.
“There clearly remains a significant armoured heavy ground manoeuvre threat in this world and maintaining a world class armoured force is absolutely vital,” the general said in London last week.
“We are developing next generation capabilities to compete with and deter adversaries to prevent opportunism or miscalculation, and, if necessary, defeat any foe decisively.”
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
