Chelsea win FIFA Club World Cup and £97m prize money as Cole Palmer destroys PSG

They brought Donald Trump and Robbie Williams to MetLife Stadium but it was Cole Palmer who upstaged them both.

What an incredible man-of-the-match performance as Palmer turned Chelsea into world beaters - and earned them a cool £97m jackpot from the Club World Cup.

Amid all the fireworks, pre-match razzmatazz with pop star Williams singing on a golden stage and the US president in attendance, it was Chelsea and Palmer who blew everyone away. It was also a timely reminder that no matter the showbiz, it is the football which entertains real fans and this was just mind-blowing brilliance from Enzo Maresca and his players.

Chelsea were just magnificent as they destroyed Paris Saint Germain who had been so far and away the best team in Europe last season. They blitzed everyone on the way to winning the Champions League.

And now what does this make Chelsea? The best team in the world? They have certainly grown into this tournament - and ended up making it their own.

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They have hardly dominated or dazzled everyone on the route to the final but they saved the best to last with a stunning performance in the scorching sunshine in New York.

Palmer was brilliant as he scored twice and provided an assist. A year out from the World Cup, Palmer gave us a wonderful, tantalising glimpse of the talent which England have at their disposal. Thomas Tuchel must have sat back and marvelled at Palmer’s display.

Joao Pedro has already repaid his £60m transfer fee as he joined midway through the tournament. And even the likes of keeper Robert Sanchez - who produced at least three brilliant saves - and Malo Gusto produced unforgettable displays.

It was a complete team performance which also sent out a message loud and clear that Chelsea - under joint owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali - are back on football’s biggest stage.

Dismissed as a laughing stock and billion pound bottle jobs not so long back, this felt like a performance of defiance and determination with two fingers up towards their critics.

Come on, nobody saw this coming. Apart from maybe Chelsea as all their pre-match talk had been about being underdogs, nobody giving them a chance and they invoked that siege mentality to perfection.

Maresca also got his tactics spot on. They were sensational from the start. Incredible work rate, exceptional pressing and then long balls over the top.

PSG have almost created an aura of invincibility with their performances and yet Chelsea refused to be intimidated and found a way through them.

Chelsea stunned the European champions after 22 minutes. Gusto did brilliant work on the right edge of the penalty box, his cut back found Palmer who then steered the ball into the far corner. This was not in the script. It got even better for Chelsea. Palmer who strode forward, his dummy put PSG defender Lucas Beraldo on his backside and wrong-footed a couple of others and then just steered his shot into the far corner. It was sheer class.

The third was super-slick, too. Palmer’s clever pass released Pedro who then dinked the ball over PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Sanchez then played his part with brilliant saves from Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele to stop PSG gaining momentum to launch a comeback. Joao Neves was sent off as PSG's frustrations boiled over late on, the Portugal midfielder pulling Marc Cucurella to the floor by his hair.

Chelsea finished as world champions. They were only the fourth best team in the Premier League last season.

But after getting back in the Champions League places, winning a European trophy and now the Club World Cup, Chelsea - and Maresca - deserve the respect they crave.

Player Ratings

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez 8; Gusto 8, Chalobah 8, Colwill 7, Cucuerella 7; Caicedo 7, James 7; Neto 7, Fernandez 7 (Santos, 61), Palmer 9; Pedro 8 (Delap, 67).

Subs: Jorgensen, Penders, Slonina, Sarr, Anselmino, Adarabioyo, Acheampong, Dewsbury-Hall, Lavia, Guiu, Nkunku, George, Jackson, Delap.

PSG (4-3-3): Donnarumma 6; Hakimi 5 (Ramos, 73), Marquinhos 6, Beraldo 5, Nuno Mendes 6; Vitinha 5, Neves 5, Ruiz 6 (Zaire-Emery, 73); Dembele 5, Kvaratskhelia 5 (Barcola, 58, 6), Doue 6 (Mayulu, 73).

Subs: Tenas, Safonov, Kimpembe, Kamara, Moscardo, Lee, Mbaye

Man of the match: Cole Palmer - Two goals, an assist and a sensational all-round display

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