Following PSG's 3-0 defeat to Chelsea in the final at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey on 13/7, players from both teams clashed on the field. Enrique became involved, appearing to push Joao Pedro in the neck and slap him in the face.
After the Chelsea player fell to the ground, the situation escalated. Several members of both teams engaged in a scuffle, creating an unsavory scene.
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Manager Enrique (second from left) makes physical contact with Joao Pedro after PSG's 3-0 loss to Chelsea on 13/7. Photo: AFP |
Manager Enrique (second from left) makes physical contact with Joao Pedro after PSG's 3-0 loss to Chelsea on 13/7. Photo: AFP
"I was foolish," Enrique admitted in the post-match press conference. "He pushed me, I touched him, and then he fell. I also saw Maresca (Chelsea's manager) being jostled. Obviously, our intention was to separate the players, a situation everyone should avoid. My intention was to de-escalate the situation by separating the players, but what happened, happened."
PSG president Nasser Al Khelaifi defended Enrique. "We have the most disciplined and respectful manager in the world. He went to intervene and was pushed. You also have to respect your manager," he said.
FIFA's Disciplinary Committee is likely to review the incident. Enrique and several players from both Chelsea and PSG could face sanctions.
PSG's heavy defeat was an unexpected end to their Club World Cup run. En route to the final, they had crushed Atletico, Inter Miami, and Real Madrid by identical 4-0 scores, and defeated Bayern Munich 2-0. They were also the reigning Champions League winners, having triumphed over Inter Milan 5-0 in the final in late May.
Before the match, experts and fans alike expected PSG to easily overcome Chelsea. However, PSG quickly lost control, conceding two goals to Cole Palmer in the 23rd and 30th minutes. In the 43rd minute, Joao Pedro chipped the ball over goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to seal a 3-0 victory for the English side.
"That's football," Enrique said. "They started very well, putting us under a lot of pressure. We tried to score, but we couldn't. They deserved the win. As I said, Chelsea are a great team."
Despite the heavy loss, Enrique objected to being called a "loser." He explained: "We are not losers, we are runners-up, because this is a top-level sport. I will not use the word 'loser' in this case."
Thanh Quy (according to Marca)
