The recent winners of the Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), have been training joyfully in Irvine, a suburb of Los Angeles, since Tuesday. Midfielder Vitinha expressed the elation of winning the Champions League but emphasized the need for a strong start against Atlético Madrid this coming Sunday.
The pressure will ramp up as the team prepares to play at the historic Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, which boasts nearly 80,000 seats. Coach Luis Enrique assured that the team remained unaffected by ongoing demonstrations and heightened police presence related to the U.S. immigration policy under Donald Trump, stating, “We didn’t see any of that.”
The upcoming match is scheduled for noon local time, allowing European audiences to tune in during their evening. PSG’s entrance into the Club World Cup will be closely watched, especially following their impressive 5-0 victory in the Champions League final against Inter Milan. The celebrations in Paris and positive media coverage underscore the club’s elevated profile.
Despite the rigorous schedule demanding many of PSG’s players to fulfill international duties, Enrique will need to be creative with his starting eleven. He acknowledged the physical toll of numerous matches but remained optimistic, indicating that the team is ready. Notably, Ousmane Dembélé, a frontrunner for the Ballon d’Or, has sustained a thigh injury, and his participation in the first group matches remains uncertain. Bradley Barcola has also faced a knee injury.
Conversely, players like Désiré Doué, Vitinha, Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Nuno Mendes are displaying resilience against fatigue. Hakimi reported feeling good and working hard outside of training sessions.
The ambitious PSG is eager to prove they have reached a new level, facing Atlético Madrid, who previously exploited PSG’s shortcomings in a past encounter. Despite Atlético’s desire to redeem themselves after a disappointing season, PSG is determined to maintain their high standards and continue their historic run, aiming for a fifth title in this newly formatted Club World Cup.
Coach Luis Enrique brightened the team’s outlook, declaring, “This Club World Cup is a beautiful competition; we have the confidence and ambition to win it.”