Luis Enrique Breaks Silence After Club World Cup Final Scuffle: “I’m Not a Loser”
Paris Saint-Germain’s head coach, Luis Enrique, has spoken out following the heated post-match clash that marred the end of PSG’s 3-0 loss to Chelsea in the FIFA Club World Cup final on Sunday.
The match, held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, saw Chelsea seize control early on, with Cole Palmer netting twice and João Pedro adding a third before halftime. But the drama didn’t end with the final whistle.
Tensions boiled over when João Pedro and PSG’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma got into a heated exchange, sparking a brief melee on the pitch. In an attempt to defuse the situation, Enrique stepped in — only to be caught on camera appearing to shove Pedro, who tumbled to the ground.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Enrique addressed the incident, insisting that his intentions were purely to restore calm.
“There was a lot of pushing, a lot of tension,” he said. “I was trying to separate players and stop things from escalating. It definitely wasn’t meant to be aggressive.”
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca was also seen stepping in to control his team as the situation briefly spiraled.
Enrique, who guided PSG to a stunning treble last season — lifting the Champions League, Ligue 1, and French Cup — pushed back against critics questioning his leadership after the loss.
“People are quick to throw around the word ‘loser,’ but I’m not one,” he said. “I’m a runner-up. In elite football, showing up and competing is already a mark of strength. The only losers are those who never get out of bed.”
PSG’s season is far from over. The French giants will now turn their attention to the UEFA Super Cup, where they face Tottenham Hotspur on August 13.
