Just hours before the Club World Cup grand final, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca did not hold back in his praise for Paris Saint-Germain and their coach Luis Enrique, whom he described as one of the top two managers in the world, only comparable to Pep Guardiola.

“Luis Enrique is a reference”

In the pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s decisive clash at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Maresca acknowledged the high level of his opponent: “PSG is an incredible team and their coach is the best alongside Pep,” he stated confidently. The Italian coach emphasized that the Parisian side has shown their dominance both in the Champions League, with a resounding 5-0 win over Inter, and in this tournament.

Despite his respect for the rival, Maresca made it clear that Chelsea will not change their approach: “We like to keep the ball, and so do they. They like to press high, and so do we. I feel it will be a game of constant attack from both sides.” He also mentioned he had studied PSG thoroughly to prepare and spot potential weaknesses.

Chelsea arrives with renewed confidence

The London side wrapped up a solid season, finishing fourth in the Premier League and winning the Conference League after beating Real Betis. That success granted them entry to this revamped Club World Cup format, featuring 32 teams across venues in the United States.

“The biggest achievement is that a year ago people talked more about money than football when it came to us. Now, they talk about our football,” Maresca noted, clearly proud of the transformation under his leadership.

He added that the locker room is “happy and very proud” of what they’ve accomplished. “We started with 32 teams and now only two remain. We’re privileged to be here,” he said.

A high-stakes final

This Sunday at 3:00 p.m. local time, Chelsea and PSG will battle for the Club World Cup title. It promises to be a tactical showdown between two teams with similar styles, and another chance to witness Luis Enrique, increasingly regarded as one of the world’s elite coaches, in action.

For many, the outcome may be decided in the finest details—and Maresca is well aware: “It’ll be like a game of chess… but we also want to enjoy it.”