Enrique sets sights on even more silverware

Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique savored his team's performance as it blew away Real Madrid on Wednesday to reach the Club World Cup final and urged his players to go on and cap a historic season by claiming yet another trophy.

Two goals from Fabian Ruiz either side of an Ousmane Dembele strike, as well as a late effort from substitute Goncalo Ramos, gave PSG an emphatic 4-0 semifinal victory at MetLife Stadium against a Madrid team that has just started working under new coach Xabi Alonso.

"It is a beautiful victory and we are happy to be in the final," said Enrique.

PSG came into the Club World Cup at the end of a campaign in which it won Ligue 1 and the French Cup, before thrashing Inter Milan 5-0 to win the UEFA Champions League for the first time in its history.

Victory against Chelsea in Sunday's final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey would see PSG emerge victorious from every competition in which it has participated this season.

"That is the objective we have had since the beginning, but it is always very difficult to achieve these things — very few teams can do what we are trying to do," said the 55-year-old.

"We are one game away from making history for Paris and for a French club by winning every competition we have taken part in.

"That means a lot to us, and it means a lot for our fans."

PSG has been outstanding in 2025 and is such a well-oiled machine under Enrique that it appears unstoppable, while Alonso only took over from Carlo Ancelotti as Real coach prior to the tournament in the United States.

"It is a new set-up for them. He has only just come in, while we have been working together for two years, so this is normal," said Enrique, who was appointed as PSG coach in July 2023.

"He needs time to get a preseason in to work with his team. He can't be judged (on this result). The two situations cannot be compared."

Meanwhile, the Spaniard said Dembele had again shown he was a serious candidate to win the Ballon d'Or, after the France forward played another starring role in a PSG victory.

Dembele was starting for the first time at the Club World Cup having come into the tournament with an injury suffered playing for France last month.

His goal to make it 2-0 was his 35th for PSG in 52 games across all competitions since last August.

"For me, when it comes to the Ballon d'Or, I must say that the players who can win it have to not just score goals and set up goals, but help their team to win trophies.

"Ousmane Dembele does those things more than any other player."

AFP