Chelsea stuns PSG to claim Club World Cup crown: Palmer shines again!

Chelsea has officially etched its name into the history books, claiming the coveted FIFA Club World Cup title with a sensational 3-0 victory over French giants Paris Saint-Germain in New Jersey. Entering the final as the reigning Champions League winners, PSG were widely considered the overwhelming favorites, especially after their dominant thrashing of Real Madrid in the semi-finals. However, Chelsea, fresh off their Conference League triumph, delivered a clinical and ruthless first-half display, scoring three times to secure their status as world champions.

The orchestrator of Chelsea's triumph was none other than the burgeoning superstar, Cole Palmer. The attacking midfielder had a direct hand in all three goals, showcasing his exquisite finishing prowess. He opened the scoring with a superb, low strike from Malo Gusto's incisive cut-back, a goal that set the tone for the Blues' dominance. Remarkably, just eight minutes later, Palmer doubled his tally with a near-identical finish, leaving PSG's defense reeling.

Not content with his brace, he then turned provider, setting up new signing Joao Pedro, who calmly slotted the ball over Gianluigi Donnarumma. Pedro's goal followed his impressive two-goal performance against Fluminense in the semi-final, cementing his instant impact. PSG's frustration boiled over towards the end, highlighted by Joao Neves receiving a red card for pulling Marc Cucurella's hair, leaving the Parisians stunned and ultimately defeated.

The victory, witnessed by an array of high-profile attendees including US President Donald Trump, comes with a significant financial windfall for Chelsea, who will bank approximately £100 million in prize money from this inaugural edition of the expanded, 32-team competition.

Paris Saint-Germain had arrived in New Jersey with aspirations of completing an unprecedented quadruple, having thrashed Inter Milan 5-0 in the Champions League final just six weeks prior. However, they simply could not handle Chelsea's relentless intensity. Under Enzo Maresca's astute guidance, Chelsea ruthlessly exploited PSG's left flank, a tactical masterclass that proved decisive.

The showpiece final was a grand spectacle, featuring a glitzy pre-match build-up complete with a fighter-jet fly-past and an extended half-time show that stretched the interval to an unusual 24 minutes, reportedly breaching IFAB regulations. Despite the pageantry, Chelsea looked sharper and more dangerous from the outset. After their first-half goal flurry, they continued to create chances, with substitute Liam Delap forcing two late saves from Donnarumma. At the other end, Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez also produced several fine stops, but the outcome never truly appeared in doubt, defying the pre-match odds that heavily favored their French opponents.

PSG's mounting frustration was palpable, culminating first in Neves's red card—issued after the referee consulted the pitch-side monitor—and then in a post-final whistle brawl between players. Once the commotion subsided, however, it was Chelsea's time to celebrate a triumphant and truly epic conclusion to their season.

Palmer: 'We proved our doubters wrong'

Chelsea's two-goal hero, Cole Palmer, expressed immense satisfaction with the victory, made all the sweeter by those who had doubted their chances. "Obviously it's a great feeling," he told DAZN. "Even better because obviously everyone doubted us before the game. But to go out there and put a fight on like we did against a great team, it's good."

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Reflecting on his knack for decisive goals, Palmer added, "I like finals and it happened again," noting the near one-year anniversary of his goal in the Euro 2024 final. He credited his coach for the tactical success: "The gaffer put a great game plan out. He knew where the space was going to be. I just had to repay him and score some goals. He's building something special. Something important. I feel like we are going in the right direction."

Maresca: 'We won the game in the first 10 minutes'

Head coach Enzo Maresca revealed that he believed Chelsea had secured the victory within the first ten minutes of the match, despite the opening goal arriving in the 22nd minute. He reserved the highest praise for his players. "No words for the players," he told DAZN. "They deserve it. It's a good moment. For me we won the game in the first ten minutes. In the first ten minutes we set the tempo for the way we want to play. We were very good. Unfortunately with the weather conditions it is not easy to do for 90 minutes, but I think we won the game in the first ten minutes."

On Palmer's standout performance, Maresca said, "Today we found a position for him where there was space to attack. I'm happy for Cole but the effort from all the players has been fantastic. Our future is very exciting, but I'm more excited for three weeks off!"

What now for Chelsea?

With Club World Cup glory secured, Chelsea will now return to London to begin their pre-season preparations for the upcoming 2025/26 Premier League campaign. Their season is set to kick off by hosting Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, August 17.