5 hours ago
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Chelsea's 2024/25 season has finally come to a close. Kicking things off with a 2-0 defeat against Manchester City on the opening weekend of the Premier League season, the Blues pulled down the curtain on their campaign by being crowned champions of the world after winning the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup.
Enzo Maresca's side were the underdogs going into the match against Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain but in the end they prevailed courtesy of a 3-0 win at MetLife Stadium. Cole Palmer was the hero with a first-half double, with new signing Joao Pedro scoring his third Chelsea goal in as many matches with a delightful chip over Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The incredible victory over Luis Enrique's talented team means that Maresca finishes his first season at Stamford Bridge with two pieces of silverware in the trophy cabinet. Clinching his first with a 4-1 win over Real Betis in May's Conference League final, the Club World Cup triumph really made it a season to remember for the head coach.
Throw in a Champions League place for the Blues as well as a result of finishing fourth in the Premier League table and Maresca has proved plenty of doubters wrong following his arrival from Leicester City after guiding them to the Championship title. What Chelsea's success in the 2024/25 campaign does do is give them a springboard to really go and attack the new season and hopefully win more silverware and also compete for the Premier League title. Todd Boehly will certainly be hoping that is the case.
Speaking in his post-match press conference about how much satisfaction he takes from what his has achieved in his maiden season in west London, Maresca said: "I work every day just to prove myself. I try always to learn, I try to do every session, every game, what we can do better, what we can learn.
"It has been a fantastic season, as you said, but I'm especially happy for the players, because just one year ago, when I joined the club, I said since the first press conference that I was in love in the squad, and it's true. But we said many times that the talent is not enough.
"We need sacrifice, we need togetherness, we need a game plan where all the players think in the same way. And it's just because of them."
The FIFA Club World Cup has come in for criticism with dwindling crowds and players having to play another tournament in an already hectic calendar. The competition has its doubters but try telling that to Maresca and his team.
"I consider this competition, the truth is that one day I said to the guys inside that I have the feeling that this competition is going to be as important, if not more important, than the Champions League," added the Italian. "I was lucky three years ago to be part of the coaching staff when we won the Champions League [at Man City].
"I lived all these moments, but the truth is that this competition is one of the best in the world. We value it as the Champions League, if not more so, because it has really been a great triumph for us and to allow the fans of Chelsea to have the chance for the next four years with this badge, the truth is that for us it is an honour."
Maresca has come in for plenty of criticism in his debut season, especially in the first few months of 2025 due to a run of two wins from ten Premier League games after initially finding themselves second in the Premier League table. A late 2-1 win at Fulham in the middle of April proved to be a big turning point for them domestically as they went on to secure a Champions League spot via the top five, before going on to win the Conference League final against Real Betis only a few days later.
Amid the grumbles over his dull and predictable football at times, Chelsea delivered a masterclass in the United States on Sunday as they put Paris Saint-Germain to the sword with his game plan working to perfection. Maresca will point to his two trophies and Champions League qualification as a very successful first season in the capital. It really is hard to argue otherwise.
Now it's about taking this young Chelsea side forward once again and ensuring that their trophy success continues to happen season after season. The 2025/26 campaign may prove to be very special indeed for Maresca and Chelsea if his first year is anything to go by.
English (US) ·