Paris Saint-Germain manager, Luis Enrique, has defended his conduct following Sunday’s heated 3-0 loss to Chelsea in the Club World Cup final.
The drama unfolded at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where Chelsea dominated proceedings thanks to a brace from Cole Palmer and a goal from João Pedro. But things became more dramatic after the final whistle.
As tempers flared during post-match tensions, a scuffle broke out between Pedro and PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
In a bid to intervene, Enrique found himself caught in the fight, and cameras captured the moment he appeared to shove Pedro, sending the Chelsea forward crashing to the turf.
Addressing the incident in his post-match press conference, Enrique denied any aggressive intent, stressing that he was only trying to restore order during the chaotic scenes.
“My only intention was to stop the players from fighting. It was an avoidable situation, I’m sure. There were a lot of pushes,” Enrique explained.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, whose side sealed a dominant performance with clinical finishing and disciplined defending, was also seen amid the clash, attempting to calm his players amid the escalating tensions.
The PSG coach added, “I saw Maresca receiving pushes and pushing people too! Clearly, our intention was to stop the players. Like I said, I was trying to stop my players. There was a lot of tension, and there was a lot of pushing. It was an avoidable situation, logically. I have nothing else to say.”
Luis Enrique, who led PSG to an extraordinary treble last season, winning the UEFA Champions League, Ligue 1, and the French Cup, was unhappy over suggestions that Sunday’s loss undermines his credentials.
“Loser? I’m not a loser. I’m a runner-up,” he said. “There are no losers in top-level football. A loser is someone who doesn’t wake up from his bed.”
Despite the final setback, PSG’s campaign remains alive on multiple fronts. The Parisians now shift focus to the UEFA Super Cup, where they will face Tottenham Hotspur on August 13 in what promises to be another high-stakes clash.
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