Chelsea striker Joao Pedro accused Paris Saint-Germain of losing their composure following the fiery conclusion to Sunday’s Club World Cup final. The aftermath of Chelsea’s dominant 3-0 victory at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey saw tempers boil over, resulting in a heated exchange between both sets of players and coaching staff.
Joao Pedro, who scored the third goal for Chelsea, was at the center of the incident after a confrontation that saw him end up on the ground following a clash involving PSG manager Luis Enrique. Speaking after the match, Pedro suggested that PSG’s reaction stemmed from frustration over the loss.
“I don’t need to say much about them,” Pedro remarked. “Everyone wants to win, and I think they lost their heads when things didn’t go their way. But that’s football. It’s done. We won the tournament, and now it’s time to enjoy it.”
He added that he preferred not to dwell on the opposition’s behavior, emphasizing that such emotions are part of the game. “I don’t want to talk too much about it. You know how football works.”
The tension escalated in the final moments of the game when PSG midfielder Joao Neves received a red card for pulling the hair of Chelsea full-back Marc Cucurella. That flashpoint appeared to trigger further chaos after the final whistle, as players and staff from both teams became involved in confrontations on the pitch.
PSG had been chasing their fourth major trophy of the season, having already secured a domestic treble and the UEFA Champions League. Their hopes of adding a Club World Cup title to the list were dashed by a clinical Chelsea side led by manager Enzo Maresca.
Luis Enrique later addressed the incident, acknowledging the emotional toll the match had taken. He explained that the pressure of the occasion contributed to the post-match flare-up.
“I don’t have any issue admitting that emotions run high in these moments. Everyone feels the pressure,” he said. “It’s a very intense environment. The idea was to intervene before things got worse. Unfortunately, everyone got involved.”
He noted that he had seen Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca also caught up in the commotion, and insisted that his own actions were aimed at calming the situation. “We were trying to separate the players and avoid further escalation. Of course, this kind of behavior isn’t what we want to see, and we must all work to prevent it.”
On the pitch, Chelsea had already sealed the result well before the drama. Cole Palmer struck twice early on, giving Chelsea a commanding lead. Just before halftime, Joao Pedro added a stylish third with a delicate chipped finish, capping off a commanding display by the English side.
It was a historic night for Chelsea, who lifted the inaugural trophy in the newly expanded format of the Club World Cup. For PSG, the frustration of the loss and the chaotic scenes afterward marked a bitter end to what had otherwise been a glittering season.
