Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has hailed his side’s Club World Cup victory as equally significant as winning the UEFA Champions League, following their commanding 3-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in Sunday’s final of FIFA’s revamped global tournament.

“I believe this competition will become as important — if not more — than the Champions League,” said Maresca after securing his second major trophy with Chelsea, having led the club to the UEFA Conference League title in May.

Maresca, who took charge of Chelsea just a year ago, was previously part of Pep Guardiola’s coaching team at Manchester City during their 2023 Champions League triumph. Reflecting on his experience, he added: “I was fortunate to be involved in a Champions League-winning side, but this tournament brings together the world’s top teams. It deserves equal respect.”

Praising his players’ performance, Maresca highlighted their aggressive start as key to the victory. “The message before kickoff was clear — we came here to win. We made that statement in the first 10 minutes,” he said. “That early intensity set the tone, and the players’ quality did the rest.”

Chelsea dominated the first half, with Cole Palmer scoring twice and setting up Joao Pedro for the third. Palmer’s standout performance earned him the Player of the Match award, further solidifying his rising global profile.

“To score in a final like this is amazing, and the way we executed the game plan shows our hunger,” Palmer said. “Every time I step on the pitch, I try to deliver. Seeing myself on billboards in Times Square and Madison Square Garden — it’s surreal to be up there with players like Mbappe and Vinicius.”

With this triumph, Chelsea will now wear the Club World Cup badge for the next four years — a source of pride for the players, manager, and fans alike.