Chelsea have been drawn against PSG in the Champions League Round of 16, and there is plenty for Liam Rosenior to learn from rewatching their triumph over the summer in the Club World Cup.
Everyone remembers Cole Palmer having his way with the opposition defence and Joao Pedro keeping up his electric start to life with his new side.
But in truth, Enzo Maresca’s side completely dominated the final all over the pitch, and there were a number of factors which coincided with them being named champions of the world.
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Chelsea named the perfect midfield to beat PSG
Maresca’s decision to name Reece James as a midfielder wasn’t always popular with supporters, although was proven to be spot on in the Club World Cup final.
The combination of James, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo absolutely dominated the much-fancied PSG midfield physically, completely nullifying their impact on the game.
Reece James #24 of Chelsea FC lifts the FIFA Club World Cup trophy after their team's victory following the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Final match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain at MetLife Stadium on July 13, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
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The frustration this caused boiled over late on when Joao Neves was sent off for a hair pull on Marc Cucurella, with it evident Chelsea had done a job on their opponents.
Andrey Santos is an option for Liam Rosenior to start, but this game suggests the blueprint is already there for how to get the better of one of the competition’s favourites.
Pedro Neto was the underrated star of the Club World Cup final
Pedro and Palmer stole the headlines with their goals, but Pedro Neto’s performance both in attack and defensively really stood out.
In the final third, the Portugal international often played the role of decoy. Despite not being the favourites, the Blues attacked in numbers and frequently had overloads.
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It was going the other way where he really impressed though, having to deal with Achraf Hakimi and how dangerous he is contributing to PSG’s attack.
Chelsea fans are often looking for more flairy wingers in their side, but the defensive effort he puts into these big games means he will have to start the Round of 16 tie.
Levi Colwill playing for Chelsea against Paris Saint-Germain at the Club World Cup.
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Chelsea are really going to miss Levi Colwill
The Club World Cup final is the last competitive game which Levi Colwill played for Chelsea, and rewatching the game gives a painful reminder of how much the Blues are missing him.
He successfully played his part in marshalling Ballon d’Or candidate Ousmane Dembele, although it was his ability on the ball which Liam Rosenior is going to have to try to replace this season.
It was his pass which set up Palmer for his second goal, and he also played three passes into the final third to help set up attacking opportunities.
His leadership is an extremely underrated trait too, and something that will be hard to replace for the upcoming Champions League tie.
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