Reece James says Chelsea do not give a damn about Paris Saint-Germain’s ‘favourites’ tag, with the club captain insisting they are ready to go ‘toe to toe’ with their final opponents.
PSG have kept the ball better than anyone at the Club World Cup – they even managed 69 per cent possession versus Real Madrid in the semi-finals – but the Blues intend on challenging that.
Chelsea insiders feel the heat and humidity for this 3pm kick-off in New Jersey would make it more difficult if they simply allowed PSG to dominate the play from start to finish.
Manager Enzo Maresca also appeared to take offence at his pre-match press conference when he was asked whether his side would need to be prepared to ‘suffer’ possession-wise.
James added: ‘This is a super-high-level game. They are one of the hottest teams in the world at the moment. This is a final, a one-off game, they are down as strong favourites.
‘I have been in finals where I have played for the favourites and not come out on top, so this doesn’t mean much to me and I don’t care to be honest that everyone is bigging up our opposition.
‘PSG have beaten all the English teams. They have an amazing team, but we have an amazing team and have surprised a lot of people. We’ve come a long way on our journey from where we started. We are preparing right and going there to win. I believe we will go toe to toe. Stats, data, favourites and not favourites doesn’t mean anything to our team.’
James also revealed that he is not injured, despite pulling out of the starting line-up to face Fluminense in the semi-finals. He felt he needed replacing as a precaution.
‘Just to be clear, I wasn’t injured so let’s put that to bed,’ James said. ‘I wasn’t feeling so good in the warm-up with my history. I could have played but it was a warning. I decided not to take an unnecessary risk and be available. I believed and thankfully we won that game.’
dennisachafu
51
In 2012 champions league final, Bayern Munich were the favourite after so many Chelsea players were suspended but Chelsea won them in their own stadium. In 2021 champions league final, Man City had 1.50 odd against 5.55 odd for Chelsea. There was more than 20 points gap between City and Chelsea in the final league table but guess what, Chelsea carried the day with a 1-0 win. You don't underestimate Chelsea when it comes to this kind of watch. PSG is in the greatest form of their life but Chelsea can pull a surprise even when you don't expect.
kingpromise7
35
I know about PSG beating bigger teams but the truth of the matter is that can you compare those teams with Chelsea now with a fast pace wingers and monster midfielders and sharp left backs you see those free runs Mendes and Hakimi are having the two Pedro will punish them if they try there luck tomorrow plus Caicedo and Enzo will give Vitinha and joao the game they have never had stop been biased and see the truth in a good team that atletico, Bayern and Madrid never had
kuhdektuy
19
Well said my captain that's the spirit come this Sunday we are carrying the day!!
AlwaysSoccer
16
Well said. Ignore the talk and just do the work on the field. Football plays on the day, not in the media...