PSG and Chelsea set for CWC final showdown

NEW YORK:

Paris St Germain (PSG) will face Chelsea in the final of FIFA's revamped 32-team Club World Cup on Sunday, capping off a month-long tournament in the United States that, while sparking debates about the weather and calendar, has delivered drama akin to a nations' World Cup.

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 glittering curtain-raiser for the 2026 World Cup in North America. The final, scheduled for midday at a sweltering MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, follows a tournament filled with surprises, including shock exits for Manchester City and Inter Milan at the hands of underdogs Al Hilal and Fluminense. PSG have been in scintillating form, winning seven of their last eight matches without conceding a single goal.

Luis Enrique's side showcased their high-pressing, fast-paced, vertical style to devastating effect in a 4-0 demolition of Real Madrid in the semi-finals.

Two early turnovers, forced by PSG's relentless press, led to a commanding two-goal lead within nine minutes.

The Parisians, fresh off their maiden Champions League triumph last month, are chasing their first world title. Manager Luis Enrique has revitalised the team, replacing departing stars Neymar, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe with a youthful, dynamic squad committed to his total football ethos.

Midfield orchestrator Vitinha has been pivotal, while flying fullbacks Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi provide width and pace. Up front, Ballon d'Or contender Ousmane Dembele has shone, delivering crucial goals and assists.

PSG's defensive solidity has also been remarkable, with their high turnover rate - averaging seven per hour of play -proving instrumental throughout the competition.

Luis Enrique, who has already experienced glory leading Barcelona to a treble a decade ago, has never lost a one-off club final, winning 11 of 11.

Chelsea, meanwhile, have taken the longer road to the final, arriving in the U.S. after winning Europe's third-tier Conference League following a sub-par domestic campaign in which they barely managed a top-four Premier League finish.

Chelsea have rallied in the tournament and the final gives manager Enzo Maresca a chance for redemption after being questioned due to struggles with a squad that cost Chelsea over 1 billion euros ($1.17 billion) in recent years.

The mid-tournament addition of Joao Pedro has proven inspired, with the Brazilian forward netting twice in their semi-final win over his childhood team Fluminense. He has combined well with Cole Palmer in attack, while Chelsea's midfield trio of Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo has excelled at breaking up play and exploiting spaces.

Wenger dismisses Klopp

Arsene Wenger has dismissed Jurgen Klopp's criticism of FIFA's revamped 32-team Club World Cup, calling the tournament a "fantastic competition" and emphasising the support it has received from participating teams, players, and managers.

Klopp, the former Liverpool manager, described the expanded summer competition as "the worst idea ever invented" in an interview with German newspaper Die Welt two weeks ago. Wenger, now FIFA's chief of global football development, countered these remarks on Thursday during a FIFA Technical Study Group (TSG) briefing in New York.

"Everyone is entitled to an opinion, and I don't share Jurgen Klopp's view at all," Wenger told reporters. "I feel that a Club World Cup, a REAL Club World Cup was needed. If you make an inquiry today with all the clubs who were here at this competition, I'm basically sure that we have 100% of answers of people who want to do this again. So that's basically the best answer."

Wenger also pointed to the unexpectedly high attendance figures as evidence of the competition's success.

"The decisive question is, do the fans like it? Attendance projections were low, but in reality, they were much higher. The answer is there," he added.