Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique urged his team on Friday to complete the best season in the club's history by winning the club's World Cup, but did not expect that the final of Sunday against Chelsea would be a “simple formality”.
“This will not be a simple formality,” the Spanish coach was on and refused to accept that PSG is necessarily overwhelming favorites to eliminate the trophy in the Metlife Stadium despite their terrifying form.
“I have analyzed Chelsea. They have a great team. Enzo Maresca is doing great and I really love what he is doing,” said Luis Enrique. “They are a very complete team.”
PSG can complete a remarkably clean sweep from trophies with victory, after he has won a French competition and cup twice before he claims the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history at the end of May.
“We want to finish this historic season in the best possible way,” said the former Barcelona coach.
“Now we have to open the next chapter, win more important trophies. We want to write more history by winning on Sunday.”
PSG was sometimes enchanting in their 4-0 win against Real Madrid in the semi-final and also placed four goals past Atletico Madrid and Lionel Messi's Inter Miami during the competition.
“But we have to win this game to complete things. In a final, however, there is always a winner and a loser, and that does not mean that the loser necessarily did something wrong,” Luis Enrique added.
“We will lose again at some point, because that is what happens in football at the top level, but I think the path is clear to everyone.”
This is the first edition of the 32-team Club World Cup, and those who win on Sunday will be world champions for four years, with the next tournament planned in 2029.
“We are aware of the importance of this competition that it is a golden chance to be in a World Cup final,” said Captain Marquinhos.
“This only happens every four years and we don't know where we will be in four years.”