Chelsea captain Reece James has fired a defiant warning to Paris Saint-Germain ahead of Sunday’s eagerly anticipated FIFA Club World Cup final in New Jersey, USA.
James insisted that despite PSG’s glittering form and star-studded squad, Chelsea remain entirely focused on their own game plan and are determined to prove their doubters wrong on the grand stage.
The French giants, PSG, have swept through the 2024/25 season with remarkable dominance, claiming every domestic and continental title on offer and defeating heavyweights like Inter Milan and Real Madrid with relative ease to book their place in the final.
While many have labeled PSG as clear favourites, James emphasized that such hype means nothing to him or his teammates.
“To be honest, I don’t care that everyone is bigging up our opposition. We’re preparing right and we’re going there to win,” James stated confidently during the pre-match press conference. “PSG are an incredible side, and we expect a tough match, but we also have an amazing squad with a lot of quality. We’re going to surprise a lot of people who have already written us off.”
The Chelsea skipper, who has fully recovered from his earlier injury setbacks this season, also underlined the importance of in-depth tactical preparation: “I’m sure our analysts are carefully studying PSG’s strengths and weaknesses. We’ll adapt our tactics to exploit any gaps and make sure we stay compact and clinical.”
Meanwhile, centre-back Levi Colwill delivered an even stronger message, directly referencing PSG’s 4-0 demolition of Real Madrid in the semi-finals. Colwill argued that Chelsea present a completely different challenge to the Parisians compared to their previous opponents.
“They’re a great side, but we’re not Inter or Real Madrid. They don’t press like us. They don’t play like us. We bring a different level of intensity and aggression that PSG haven’t faced yet,” Colwill declared. “We believe in ourselves, and we’re not here just to participate. We’re here to win.”
Colwill also spoke about the squad’s mindset and internal belief, highlighting the unity and collective hunger among the players: “Most people around the world expect PSG to win comfortably. But not in our camp. We’re fully confident in our abilities, we know what we’re capable of, and we’ve already proven throughout this competition that we deserve to be here.”
On the other side, PSG manager Luis Enrique acknowledged Chelsea’s strengths and refused to underestimate them. He described Chelsea as “physically strong” and tactically adaptable, noting that they share similarities with PSG in terms of pressing intensity and attacking transitions. Enrique predicted a closely contested final that could go down to fine margins.
Chelsea come into this showdown seeking their second piece of silverware for the 2024/25 season, having previously won the Europa Conference League after a hard-fought campaign. A victory on Sunday would mark their second Club World Cup title in history, adding another prestigious trophy to their cabinet and reinforcing their status on the global stage.
The highly anticipated match at the MetLife Stadium is expected to draw a massive global audience, with fans eager to witness whether Chelsea can defy the odds and stop PSG’s imperious run. Emotions are running high among supporters, and the players are equally charged, setting the stage for a dramatic and unforgettable encounter.
Victory would not only cement Chelsea’s place among the elite but also serve as a powerful statement of intent as they build momentum heading into next season. With Reece James leading the charge and young stars like Levi Colwill rallying behind him, the Blues are determined to make history once again.