Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca praised the Club World Cup and even made a projection about the competition’s value in the future
Enzo Maresca was very excited about securing the title on Sunday (13/7). After the final whistle of the final against Paris Saint-Germain, the Chelsea coach praised winning the Club World Cup and compared it to the importance of the Champions League, Europe’s premier club tournament.
Still in the heat of the 3-0 victory over PSG, Enzo Maresca made it clear how much he values winning the Club World Cup. For the Italian coach, in the future, this title may be more important than the Champions League, which is the obsession of European clubs. “My feeling is that this competition will be as important as, or more important than, the Champions League in a few years. We see and value this title as much as, if not more than, the Champions League.”
Enzo Maresca’s excitement reflects the importance of the title for his coaching career, which began in 2021. The 45-year-old was champion of the English Second Division with Leicester in 2023/24 and, with Chelsea, won the Conference League and the Club World Cup in the 2024/25 season.
In 2025/26, he will have the opportunity to compete in the Champions League as a coach for the first time. Chelsea secured a Champions League spot after finishing fourth in the Premier League.
Chelsea’s Club World Cup Campaign
Chelsea’s journey to the Club World Cup began unevenly in the group stage. The team qualified second in Group D, behind Flamengo, after losing to Flamengo 3-1 in the second round. However, they beat Los Angeles FC 2-0 in their opening match and Espérance 3-0 to secure a spot in the knockout round.
In the final stage of the World Cup, Enzo Maresca’s team stepped up their game and crushed their opponents. In the round of 16, Chelsea beat Benfica in extra time 4-1, then eliminated Brazilian side Palmeiras 2-1 in the quarterfinals and Fluminense 2-0 in the semifinals, before crushing PSG 3-0 in the final.
