CLUB WORLD CUP
PSG’s success lies in team ethic, not individual stars, says manager Luis Enrique

Paris St. Germain manager Luis Enrique emphasised on Friday that the key to his side’s resurgence is a collective team ethic rather than reliance on individual brilliance, as the French and European champions prepare to face Chelsea in Sunday’s Club World Cup final.
The Parisians, buoyed by their historic Champions League triumph a little over a month ago, are chasing their first Club World Cup title.
Luis Enrique has overseen a significant transformation at PSG, replacing departing stars Neymar, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappe with a dynamic, youthful squad that embodies his total football philosophy.
Speaking at a press conference at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the Spaniard downplayed suggestions that he is the team’s central figure, instead crediting the players’ shared commitment to a common goal.
“I’m not a star… I like the work I do. I enjoy my career, especially during difficult times,” Luis Enrique said. “When things aren’t going well, I feel better. It’s nice when everything works out because the best thing about winning is making the people who follow us happy. I’ve been much better when I’ve been criticised than when I’ve been praised.”
Luis Enrique, who previously guided Barcelona to Champions League glory, hinted that this campaign could be among the finest of his managerial career but stressed that success would only be defined after Sunday’s final.
“Maybe this could be the best season of my coaching career. But there’s still a final to win. When we’ve won it, we’ll talk about it,” he said.
The Spaniard also highlighted the volatile nature of football, citing Manchester City’s recent struggles as a cautionary tale.
“We’ve seen Manchester City, for example. They won everything last year and then they lose 10 games and they’re crushed. Pep Guardiola is still the best coach in the world and they’re killing him. So I prefer criticism over praise because it makes you feel humble, it’s the crude reality.”
Luis Enrique reiterated his vision for a team-first approach, declaring, “We have to be a team with eleven stars, not just one or two. Not even eleven, maybe thirteen, fifteen stars… The real star should be the entire team. That’s what our club stands for. We’ll lose again soon, for sure. We want stars, but in the service of the team.”
PSG’s clash with Chelsea promises to be an enthralling encounter, with both sides vying to add a coveted international trophy to their respective honours. The Parisians will be aiming to cap off a groundbreaking year by lifting the Club World Cup for the first time in their history.
-Reuters
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CLUB WORLD CUP
Chelsea’s Maresca braces for “game of chess” against PSG in Club World Cup final

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has likened Sunday’s Club World Cup final against Paris St. Germain to a game of chess, as the Blues prepare to face the Champions League holders and Ligue 1 giants in a highly anticipated clash.
Speaking to reporters on Friday at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, Maresca emphasised the tactical nature of the showdown, which pits his side against Luis Enrique’s PSG.
“I really love chess and I see many similarities between chess and football,” Maresca said. “At a tactical level, I don’t believe in chess moves during matches but the manager must react when another manager reacts.
“Of course, this will be a tough chess match against Luis Enrique but we will try to enjoy it, for sure.”
Maresca, who has guided Chelsea into the final with a mix of defensive solidity and attacking flair, was full of admiration for his opposite number.
“For sure, PSG and their manager, Luis Enrique, are a reference not only for me but for many people who love football. I believe they have an incredible team, and their coach is, along with Pep Guardiola, the best in the world right now,” he said.
“This is a team composed of incredible players. It will be a difficult and great challenge but we have our style. We’ve shown the way we want to do things.”
Chelsea’s semi-final victory over Brazilian side Fluminense saw new signing Joao Pedro make a big impact, scoring twice in the 2-0 win.
However, Maresca remained tight-lipped about whether the 60-million-pound ($81.01-million) forward, acquired from Brighton & Hove Albion last week, would feature in the starting line-up for the final.
“Joao Pedro is a very good player. We bought him because we think he will help us. He has great quality,” Maresca said. “We have 48 hours before the final. We are lucky we can choose different options. We’ll see for the final if he’s going to play.”
The French and English sides, two of European football’s most powerful and richest clubs, will compete for the honour of being the first champions of FIFA’s expanded competition, created with the promise of revolutionising club football and as a curtain-raiser for the 2026 World Cup in North America.
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CLUB WORLD CUP
Modric Bids Farewell to Real Madrid After Club World Cup Defeat

Luka Modric’s glittering Real Madrid career came to an emotional end on Wednesday night, as the Spanish giants suffered a 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The 39-year-old Croatian midfielder, who is set to join AC Milan, made his final appearance for the club in the one-sided encounter.
Despite the painful result, Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso, who once shared the midfield with Modric during his playing days, insisted the veteran’s legacy remains untarnished.
“This is not the desired end — it’s a bitter one — but Luka won’t be remembered for today’s game. He’s a legend of world football and of Real Madrid,” Alonso said. “He will be remembered for many more great performances than the 25 minutes he played today.”
Modric, the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner, joined Real Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur in 2012 and went on to become the club’s most decorated player.
Over a remarkable 12-year spell, he played 597 matches and lifted 28 trophies, including six UEFA Champions League titles.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois echoed Alonso’s sentiments, highlighting the void Modric will leave behind.
“Modric always gets a standing ovation, not only from the Madridistas. He’s a great player, a great teammate, and we’ll miss him,” said the Belgian shot-stopper.
As Modric prepares to begin a new chapter with AC Milan, he departs the Santiago Bernabéu as one of the greatest midfielders of his generation, leaving a legacy few can match.
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CLUB WORLD CUP
PSG Crush Real Madrid to Set Up Club World Cup Final Showdown with Chelsea

Paris Saint-Germain produced a stunning performance to demolish Real Madrid 4-0 at the MetLife Stadium on Tuesday night, setting up a blockbuster FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ final clash with Chelsea.
The all-European final, billed as a continental classic, will take place at the same venue on Sunday, July 13.
PSG raced into a commanding 3-0 lead inside 30 minutes, with midfielder Fabian Ruiz netting twice and Ousmane Dembele scoring a superb breakaway goal against his former side. Substitute Goncalo Ramos added a fourth in the closing minutes to seal a comprehensive victory.
Despite starting with Kylian Mbappe — facing Madrid for the first time since his high-profile move — Los Blancos struggled to find rhythm and were overwhelmed by a relentless PSG side chasing an unprecedented quadruple this season. The Parisians have already claimed the Ligue 1 title, Coupe de France, and UEFA Champions League.
Madrid, hampered by defensive reshuffles, were punished for early mistakes. An error from Raul Asencio gifted Ruiz his opener in the sixth minute, while Antonio Rudiger’s lapse near the halfway line allowed Dembele to double the lead just three minutes later. Another blistering PSG counter-attack saw Ruiz calmly slot home his second in the 24th minute.
Xabi Alonso’s side attempted to rally after the break, but their efforts were in vain. Ramos put the icing on the cake in the 87th minute, finishing off an intricate move to complete a night to forget for the Spanish giants.
There was, however, a moment of emotion late on, as veteran midfielder Luka Modric came off the bench to a rousing ovation, marking his final appearance for Real Madrid.
With Madrid out, PSG now turn their attention to Sunday’s final against Chelsea, eyeing a historic clean sweep of silverware in what has already been a dream season.
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