Chelsea are Club World Cup winners after an impressive 3-0 win over PSG on Sunday, and a huge amount of credit needs to go to Malo Gusto.
There were doubts about him before kick off, but he ended up playing a vital role in the win.
Speaking to the club’s official website after full time, Gusto explained a little about how his side had overturned the odds and beaten PSG.
Close Chelsea unit have team spirit to overcome mighty PSG
“We’re a very close-knit, which, as I said, given that we’re young, means we all have pretty much the same interests, so that obviously helps. We’re really happy to win this kind of trophy on the international stage,” Gusto explained.
“I try to give my all every time I’m on the pitch, to help the team as much as possible. That’s what I did in this game.”
“We were very tired, but none of the players who were on the pitch let up, and those who came on also gave their all. I think that’s what made the difference for us on Sunday.”
Certainly the effort levels were off the charts and set up apart from PSG, who were never able to get into gear and match us.
Palmer’s personality a key part of Chelsea’s growing team spirit
“Everyone knows [Cole Palmer] now, and everyone knew him before, too. He’s a top player, like many others in this team. He did us a lot of good on Sunday, so we can be happy. He’s always a bit in his own world, a bit reserved, but he’s a very good person. He knows when to speak up and he knows how to be funny to lighten the mood a bit.
“We all get along really well, and it’s great to have players like him in the team.”
Cole Palmer obviously deserves loads of credit for his work with the ball at his feet—he was lights out! But I think he deserves special kudos for his work without the ball—namely the intensity and relentlessness of his pressing. It’s like a switch has flipped in his head (perhaps with the help of his manager) that to be a top player you have to do all of the little things. And boy did Palmer show a commitment to defending in the CWC that was noticeably missing as recently as six months ago. Obviously, he could do “a Messi†and saunter around out of possession and not risk his spot in the team, but the tone he sets when he brings the energy out of possession is really crucial to this young team. It really elevates him to a level of leadership within the squad (even if only by example) that he only aspired to a short time ago.