2025 Club World Cup

[IthacaMatt]

Wow, PSG just destroyed Bayern, and then Real Madrid this afternoon. They are clearly on a mission to establish this as an all-time great team.

And for Real Madrid, it should be clear that players like Mbappe and Vini, who don't play any defense, might score a lot of goals to win games, but you're not going to beat the best teams when 2 or 3 of your guys don't defend. PSG hunt the ball like the great Pep Barca teams of 2010-12 did.

Chelsea will be lucky not to get their butts kicked on Sunday afternoon, although I do feel like we will be a challenger in the Premier League this year. These young guys have played together for a couple years now, and many of them are really starting to get better.

 

[Forza Azzurri]

Wow, PSG just destroyed Bayern, and then Real Madrid this afternoon. They are clearly on a mission to establish this as an all-time great team.

And for Real Madrid, it should be clear that players like Mbappe and Vini, who don't play any defense, might score a lot of goals to win games, but you're not going to beat the best teams when 2 or 3 of your guys don't defend. PSG hunt the ball like the great Pep Barca teams of 2010-12 did.

Chelsea will be lucky not to get their butts kicked on Sunday afternoon, although I do feel like we will be a challenger in the Premier League this year. These young guys have played together for a couple years now, and many of them are really starting to get better.

Great point. My son and I were discussing this.

Took PSG getting rid of all their non D-playing superstars to win.

Watching them, what stands out is, yes, they are still very talented but they also work extremely hard as an entire team - especially when pressing or getting back on D.

Real Madrid going to win a lot of games simply because of talent but they are unbalanced.

Agree on Sunday. PSG is just crushing everyone right now. Inter probably not feeling quite as badly as they did in the aftermath of the Champions massacre since PSG is doing it to everyone they play.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Great point. My son and I were discussing this.

Took PSG getting rid of all their non D-playing superstars to win.

Watching them, what stands out is, yes, they are still very talented but they also work extremely hard as an entire team - especially when pressing or getting back on D.

Real Madrid going to win a lot of games simply because of talent but they are unbalanced.

Agree on Sunday. PSG is just crushing everyone right now. Inter probably not feeling quite as badly as they did in the aftermath of the Champions massacre since PSG is doing it to everyone they play.

Did you see that video of Luis Enrique in a film session with Mbappe about his lack of pressing on defense, and how they need him to set an example for the other guys? It was 2 months before the end of his last season, and Enrique said to him, "If you do it my way, we can turn this team into a machine".

Luis Enrique has been proven right.

 

[Forza Azzurri]

Did you see that video of Luis Enrique in a film session with Mbappe about his lack of pressing on defense, and how they need him to set an example for the other guys? It was 2 months before the end of his last season, and Enrique said to him, "If you do it my way, we can turn this team into a machine".

Luis Enrique has been proven right.

I have not. Can you link?

 

[IthacaMatt]

I have not. Can you link?

Luis Enrique’s mind-blowing leadership talk to Mbappé stuns everyone

The PSG coach had this conversation with Kylian Mbappé before he left the French club, as revealed by Movistar Plus+ in their new documentary.

en.as.com

There's a longer one out there, too.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Holy cow, Chelsea just demolished PSG in the Club World Cup Final. They only had a 16% chance of winning, according to the computers, and they kicked PSG's ass, outdoing them at their own game, playing much more physical, and dominating midfield.

They consistently attacked PSG's left flank, going with long passes into space on the wings and then outrunning PSG's defenders.

This win accelerates Chelsea's development. I think they can be genuine contenders in the Premier League this season. Their confidence has to be through the roof right now!!

Very weird to see Luis Enrique lose his cool at the end of the game, and go after Joao Pedro not just once, but twice. Hopefully a big fine and suspension are coming his way.

Talk about ruining your image in an unhinged moment. People were just lauding him for making his players work hard, as a team, and he just did himself a world of hurt to his image. He's a sore loser now. Period.

 

[Forza Azzurri]

Holy cow, Chelsea just demolished PSG in the Club World Cup Final. They only had a 16% chance of winning, according to the computers, and they kicked PSG's ass, outdoing them at their own game, playing much more physical, and dominating midfield.

They consistently attacked PSG's left flank, going with long passes into space on the wings and then outrunning PSG's defenders.

This win accelerates Chelsea's development. I think they can be genuine contenders in the Premier League this season. Their confidence has to be through the roof right now!!

Very weird to see Luis Enrique lose his cool at the end of the game, and go after Joao Pedro not just once, but twice. Hopefully a big fine and suspension are coming his way.

Talk about ruining your image in an unhinged moment. People were just lauding him for making his players work hard, as a team, and he just did himself a world of hurt to his image. He's a sore loser now. Period.

And that is why they play the game. Never saw that coming.

I don't know about you but I honestly never really got into this whole competition.

 

[Forza Azzurri]

Luis Enrique’s mind-blowing leadership talk to Mbappé stuns everyone

The PSG coach had this conversation with Kylian Mbappé before he left the French club, as revealed by Movistar Plus+ in their new documentary.

en.as.com

There's a longer one out there, too.

After today, I assume the longer version concludes with,”And if you do lose, Mbappe, you fight the other team.”

 

[cusefan88]

And that is why they play the game. Never saw that coming.

I don't know about you but I honestly never really got into this whole competition.

It's plastic FIFA greed. Players need a break desperately in the calendar. Infantino makes Sepp Blatter look like a saint.

 

[Forza Azzurri]

It's plastic FIFA greed. Players need a break desperately in the calendar. Infantino makes Sepp Blatter look like a saint.

Agreed 100%. Last thing players from top teams need is more games in summer heat and humidity.

No question that is a large part of the reason I didn't watch much or attend any of the games.

 

[upperdeck]

PSG losing the best atheletic defender changed the dynamic of how Chelsea was able to attack

On top of that the goalie had the game of his life.

 

[IthacaMatt]

And that is why they play the game. Never saw that coming.

I don't know about you but I honestly never really got into this whole competition.

Well, my boys were in it, so I watched it all.

 

[IthacaMatt]

After today, I assume the longer version concludes with,”And if you do lose, Mbappe, you fight the other team.”

I can't believe Enrique claimed he was trying to break things up! He hit Joao Pedro twice - once in the neck and once in the face. Big fine coming his way.

 

[IthacaMatt]

PSG losing the best atheletic defender changed the dynamic of how Chelsea was able to attack

On top of that the goalie had the game of his life.

Chelsea went after Nuno Mendes, PSG's left back. He was the usual starter. The main guy who was missing was the other center back who plays next to Marquinhos.

Because PSG's wingers play so high up the pitch, and because they expected Chelsea to try to play out of the back, like they usually do, Maresca changed up the game plan and play long balls into the open right flank (offensively for Chelsea) behind the wingers, and then created 2-on-1's vs. Mendes, who had a tough game.

 

[IthacaMatt]

It's plastic FIFA greed. Players need a break desperately in the calendar. Infantino makes Sepp Blatter look like a saint.

Totally agree. Just saw a press release from FIFA and players union that there will be a 3 week mandated summer break, and 72 hours between games for players. That's still not a ton of rest and recovery, but it's a start.

 

[IthacaMatt]

PSG losing the best atheletic defender changed the dynamic of how Chelsea was able to attack

On top of that the goalie had the game of his life.

He had 4 great saves, no question.
Not quite the "game of his life", though. Sanchez was / is among the top shot stoppers in Europe's Top 5 leagues. His problems are in distribution. He dallies on the ball and gets caught too often playing out from the back. He very nearly had one of those kinds of turnovers right at the end of the PSG game.

 

[IthacaMatt]

I can't believe Enrique claimed he was trying to break things up! He hit Joao Pedro twice - once in the neck and once in the face. Big fine coming his way.

Luis Enrique is a punk-ass bitch.

 

[Forza Azzurri]

Luis Enrique is a punk-ass bitch.

Soccer "fights" always amuse me. Lots of "tough guys" who clearly want no part of anybody.

More about trying to bait someone into giving them a push so they can react as if shot with a bazooka.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Soccer "fights" always amuse me. Lots of "tough guys" who clearly want no part of anybody.

More about trying to bait someone into giving them a push so they can react as if shot with a bazooka.

If you put your hands on somebody's neck, that's serious IMO.

 

[Forza Azzurri]

If you put your hands on somebody's neck, that's serious IMO.

Not talking specifically about Enrique. He clearly crossed the line.

Talking more generally.