This Sunday, in the final of the 2025 Club World Cup, Paris Saint-Germain faced Chelsea at New York’s MetLife Stadium. The Rouge et Bleu completely lost their way in the first half, losing heavily 3-0 (highlights Chelsea/PSG). Here are our grades on the Parisians.
Goalkeeper –
Gianluigi Donnarumma (4) – A first half to forget. He wasn’t decisive, even if he didn’t make any notable errors. 3 goals in one half is too many. He did what he had to do to keep out a Chelsea shot in the second half, but the Parisian keeper was clearly unable to keep his cool.
Defenders –
Achraf Hakimi (3) – Played and fought hard, but like his team-mates, was often out of sync in the first half. Failed to get back on track in the second half. Replaced in the 73rd minute by Senny Mayulu.
Marquinhos (3) – A forgettable first half and, overall, a forgettable final. But he wasn’t the most troubled player in the match.
Lucas Beraldo (2) – Wasn’t very good in the first half. Often on his own, he was unable to match Chelsea’s athleticism. It was the opposite of the previous game, and this inconsistency is worrying.
Nuno Mendes (3) – Guilty of the first goal, too lax, he was below his best. He’s given a lot this season, but in this match, he made some poor choices and failed to rectify them.
Midfielders –
João Neves (2) – Borrowed, tired, that’s the image he left in the first half. It was about time for a vacation for him too. His red card punctuated a complicated match for him.
Vitinha (3) – Minimal influence, his poor first half also matched Paris’ poor period. Better for a while in the second half, it was a laborious affair overall.
Fabian Ruiz (2) – Fabian Ruiz’s distant cousin was back. Tough in the first half and in the second. Replaced by Warren Zaïre-Emery in the 73rd minute.
Forwards –
Ousmane Dembélé (2) – Bad choices, bad ideas for the game, his first half was poor. Only his pressing was existent, but for the rest, it’s to be forgotten. His second half went by like a ghost.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (2) – Took balls down the left but didn’t do much with them. He, too, was guilty of the game, and his defensive comebacks were a step back. To be forgotten. Replaced in the 59th minute by Bradley Barcola.
Désiré Doué (5) – Surely one of Paris’s best, capable of creating chances, but also with some garbage. Tried and failed in the first half. Still, he fought hard and finished the match with cramps. Replaced by Gonçalo Ramos in the 73rd minute.
Coach –
Luis Enrique (3) – He kept telling us not to relax, and his team had no choice but to ignore him. We don’t know why the team went completely off the rails in the first half, but Chelsea countered the Parisian system perfectly by putting the midfield to the sword. It’s been a great season, and this match won’t tarnish the work we’ve done. We’ll have to use this defeat to get off on the right foot again.
