Speaking exclusively with BoyleSports, Manchester United hero Louis Saha has explained how compatriot Enrique’s coaching philosophy is changing the game ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup Final.
Saha has also stated that Kylian Mbappe’s Ballon d’Or hopes are now over for another season and gives us his insight into Chelsea’s potential in attacking areas.
Enrique's PSG Formula: Changing the Game
All managers will have realised that there is a new formula out there that has been shown by the level of PSG. I think, as Pep Guardiola has done over the years and made others copy his system, now people will be copying the system of Luis Enrique.
It's going to be a challenge to face a team like PSG because they have a very powerful combination. You could be any team, and you will face a really big struggle to contain these kinds of players with their confidence and with this system.
Xabi Alonso will have had a wake-up call, and he isn’t the only one; so many teams have already been hurt by PSG and realised their own weaknesses, because PSG can hurt you at any time.
*Odds are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Ballon d’Or Dream Over For Mbappe
It seems like Kylian Mbappe’s Ballon d’Or hopes are now over. If you look at the season of Ousmane Dembele, I think it will be a scandal that he doesn't lift his trophy. There will be no explanation.
He has been an ambassador for football with his fair play, his hard work, his ethic both in and outside of football has been tremendous. There have been critics that I don’t understand, that’s why I don’t really like the Ballon d’Or, but Dembele has answered everything.
Experience Is Key
Both teams have shown tremendous quality up to this point, individually, Chelsea, but more as a team, PSG. So, definitely PSG start as a favourite. But it's the final, so I can see Chelsea upsetting PSG. It wouldn't be a surprise to me. In these tournaments at the end of the year, everyone is tired and can make mistakes.
I do think that PSG, if they play the way they can play, is going to be a challenge for Chelsea. Chelsea still make mistakes due to a lack of experience and young players, although they can do amazing things, can get found out in finals.
Maresca’s Found Solutions
I don’t really understand how the invitations to the tournament work, but it’s definitely a case of the more games these young players are playing at a high level, the better. I do think Chelsea have surprised us, we could see some alignment in the team and that the stars could play together, next season I think Enzo Maresca will have more answers and less questions to ask.
There are five or six teams who are able to spend big now and really upset teams in the Premier League, it’s very exciting.
Chelsea: A Dangerous Side
Joao Pedro is a good player, very active, almost impossible to contain to zero chances. He can create his own chances. He’s that type of profile: he's tall, he can hold the ball, he can go left, he can go right. He’s a very dangerous player.
Those two goals it's the start. He has momentum, and alongside Cole Palmer, you can see they're gonna create a lot of chances. With Pedro, Liam Delap, and Palmer, Chelsea are a very dangerous team.
*Odds are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
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