Chelsea vs PSG: Colwill unfazed ahead of CWC showdown

Chelsea vs PSG will decide the Club World Cup champion on Friday night in Jeddah, and Blues centre-back Levi Colwill insists the French giants “are not Inter Milan or Real Madrid” as he plots a statement victory for Mauricio Pochettino’s young side.

Chelsea vs PSG: The Stage Is Set

The 2023 FIFA Club World Cup has already produced fireworks, but the best may be saved for last as European heavyweights collide. Chelsea reached the final with a measured 2-0 win over Copa Libertadores kings Fluminense, while Paris Saint-Germain bulldozed past Inter (4-1) before hammering Real Madrid (3-0) to underline their goal-scoring menace. The backdrop could not be more dramatic: Pochettino meeting his former club, Kylian Mbappé pursuing the only major trophy missing from PSG’s cabinet, and a Blues squad desperate to re-establish themselves among football’s elite.

Colwill’s Rallying Cry

Speaking after the semi-final, academy graduate Colwill cut a confident figure. “We respect PSG, but they’re not Inter or Real,” he said, referencing Les Parisiens’ demolition of two continental giants. “We’ve analysed their strengths, but we believe our intensity and togetherness can carry us over the line.” Those words echo a rebuilt Chelsea dressing room that has been learning on the job under Pochettino, yet shows weekly flashes of cohesion. Colwill, 20, has started eight straight matches and is quickly becoming the defensive lynchpin alongside veteran Thiago Silva.

Form Guide Favors No One

Statistically, Chelsea vs PSG is a toss-up. The Londoners have lost just once in 12 outings, tightening their defensive record to 0.8 goals conceded per game in that span. PSG, however, have rattled in 17 goals across their last five matches and arrive with the tournament’s top scorer, Mbappé (five goals). Chelsea vs PSG therefore hinges on whether Chelsea can neutralise the Frenchman’s devastating runs between full-back and centre-back, something Inter and Real failed to manage.

Tactical Chess Match

Pochettino is expected to retain his 4-2-3-1 shape, pressing high with Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo while allowing Christopher Nkunku to float behind Nicolas Jackson. The Argentine coach knows PSG’s midfield trio — Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz and Manuel Ugarte — are comfortable in tight spaces, so disrupting the build-up is key. Conversely, Luis Enrique’s PSG will deploy their familiar 4-3-3, trusting Marquinhos and Milan Škriniar to step into midfield and progress the ball early to Ousmane Dembélé and Mbappé. Watch for Achraf Hakimi’s surges down the right; Ben Chilwell, returning from injury, must choose wisely when to overlap or risk isolation.

Road to the Final

Chelsea’s Path

• Quarter-final: 3-0 vs Al Ahly (goals from Broja, Palmer, Madueke)
• Semi-final: 2-0 vs Fluminense (goals from Sterling, Nkunku)

PSG’s Path

• Quarter-final: 4-1 vs Inter (Mbappé 2, Barcola, Hakimi)
• Semi-final: 3-0 vs Real Madrid (Mbappé, Dembélé, Vitinha)

Those score lines feed the narrative that PSG are sweeping aside Europe’s traditional powers, yet Chelsea vs PSG is a unique rivalry. The two sides last met in the 2016 UEFA Champions League round of 16, with PSG edging a 4-2 aggregate win. Much has changed since then, particularly Chelsea’s transition under new ownership and PSG’s evolution into a more balanced, possession-dominant unit under Enrique.

Chelsea vs PSG in Historical Context

Despite limited meetings, the fixture carries historical tension. Chelsea’s infamous 2015 collapse, when two Zlatan Ibrahimović assists knocked Jose Mourinho’s men out despite playing against 10 men, still stings in west London. Conversely, PSG supporters remember Demba Ba’s 2014 stoppage-time winner that eliminated them on away goals. The players might have changed, but the edge remains.

Key Battles to Watch

1. Colwill vs Mbappé: The young Englishman’s anticipation against the French star’s explosive pace.
2. Caicedo & Fernández vs Vitinha & Ruiz: Whoever controls the midfield tempo could dictate the match.
3. Nkunku vs PSG’s double pivot: The former Paris academy product faces his boyhood club for the first time.

Managerial Subplots

Pochettino coached PSG to a Ligue 1 title and a Champions League semi-final before departing in 2022. He understands the pressure cooker his opposite number is in. Luis Enrique, meanwhile, guided Barcelona to Club World Cup glory in 2015 and would relish repeating the feat with PSG. Their tactical duel adds another layer to an already rich storyline.

Injury Report and Selection News

Chelsea welcome back Reece James from suspension, though Malo Gusto’s form provides competition at right-back. Romeo Lavia remains sidelined. PSG travel without the injured Marco Asensio, but teenage sensation Warren Zaïre-Emery returns to the bench after recovering from an ankle problem.

What Victory Would Mean

For Chelsea, lifting the trophy would be a first under Pochettino and a psychological boost for a fresh-faced squad chasing Champions League qualification in the Premier League. For PSG, it offers global validation and a morale injection before their push for that elusive Champions League crown. Commercially, both clubs would tap into new markets across the Middle East and Asia, where the Club World Cup garners huge audiences.

Expert Verdict

On paper, PSG’s firepower tilts the scales. Yet Chelsea vs PSG is more than a shoot-out; it is a battle of resolve and tactical discipline. Colwill’s declaration that “Chelsea are not Inter or Real” may sound like bravado, but internally the Blues believe their collective energy can blunt PSG’s individual brilliance. If Pochettino’s men withstand the early onslaught and exploit PSG’s high line, an upset is possible. PSG, conversely, must remain clinical and avoid the complacency that has occasionally haunted them in European knockout ties.

Prediction

The margin is razor-thin, but a 2-1 scoreline either way would surprise no one. Expect end-to-end football, full-back battles, and a decisive moment from either Mbappé or Raheem Sterling.

Our Opinion

Colwill’s confidence may raise eyebrows, yet it embodies the swagger Chelsea need to topple a star-studded PSG. Should the Blues keep their composure, disrupt PSG’s midfield rhythms, and seize moments on the counter, a famous victory beckons. Conversely, underestimate Mbappé for a split second and hopes will evaporate. Neutral fans should buckle up: Friday’s clash promises drama, quality, and perhaps the birth of a new European rivalry.