Paris Saint-Germain head off to the FIFA Club World Cup as one of the favourites to win the newly-expanded tournament.
Luis Enrique’s side are one of the main benefactors of the new format – which has increased participants to 32 teams – with the Parisians paired with Atletico Madrid, Botafogo and MLS side Seattle Sounders in Group B.
PSG land in California on the back of a sensational 2024/25 season as Luis Enrique made history at the Parc des Princes with four major trophies.
That set a new benchmark of excellence in French football as the former Barcelona boss capped it all off with a sensational 5-0 UEFA Champions League final win over Inter Milan to secure a first-ever UCL crown.
Another first this summer sees his team in the Club World Cup for a debut appearance but they are expected to go deep into the competition and challenge some of their main rivals.
The 55-year-old tactician won the shorter form competition with Barcelona in 2015 – beating River Plate 3-0 in the final in Yokohama – but his squad are untested at this level.
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Luis Enrique warns PSG stars over Club World Cup challenge
Despite confidence running through his PSG stars, a coach of Luis Enrique’s experience knows the challenge ahead is to maintain that level, and establish themselves as a dominant force.
The Club World Cup offers PSG a chance to add another trophy to their cabinet this season – and flex on the global stage – but their always pragmatic boss will not be dropping the intensity levels.
“Football does not understand fairness and anything can happen in a competition as short as the Club World Cup. Let’s not forget when you get to the Round of 16, everything is decided in a one off match, the quarter finals one match, the semi finals and the final too.” he told an interview with DAZN.
“Football always has surprises. The goal is the same in every competition. Try and be in a position to win it. The objective is clear: compete to the very end, go as far as possible and to have a chance of winning it.”
PSG’s first appearance in the Club World Cup kicks off with a clash against Diego Simeone’s La Liga giants on June 15 in Pasadena.
