If we sideline everything for a moment, the tactics, the style of play, the trophies, this match is going to be an emotional one for Kylian Mbappe as he plays against his former club, Paris Saint-Germain. In the first semi-final, Joao Pedro scored against his former club Fluminense, and now Kylian Mbappe can too destroy his former club’s dream of winning the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.
This is going to be the second semi-final of the FIFA Club World Cup. The date for the match is 9th July. At the same time, the venue is MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States. Chelsea, after winning the first semi-final of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, is waiting for their competitors in the final.
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First Joao Pedro and now can Kylian Mbappe too destroy his former club’s dream of winning the FIFA Club World Cup 2025?
There is no better player in this Real Madrid team than Kylian Mbappe, who knows this Paris Saint-Germain side better. He played for Paris Saint-Germain for seven years before joining his dream club, Real Madrid, last summer. Kylian Mbappe has played under the current coach, Luis Enrique, and all the starting players of this PSG team. One thing that has changed from the day Mbappe left them was that this bunch of players work as a team and are not dependent on any superstar signing.
What can be Paris Saint-Germain’s approach to the game?
The Spanish coach Luis Enrique’s team has been the best team this season, and there is no doubt about that. Enrique has faced Real Madrid eight times as a manager, winning four, losing three, and drawing one. When a reporter asked Luis Enrique about Mbappe, this is what he had to say –
This is a question about the past and I’m not here to talk about the past, I’m only thinking about the future.
PSG are playing free-flowing football with all the players perfectly doing what they are asked to do. The players have a better understanding of when to take whose position. For example, if Hakimi drives forward to attack, Joao Neves or Vitinha has his position covered. The rotation among the front three of PSG is the best part of their attacking game. You can’t predict who’s playing where. They are unstoppable on transitions.
What exactly is Xabi ball?
It is fair to say that Xabi Alonso has impressed in the first five games of his Real Madrid tenure. Players such as Fran Garcia, the academy product Gonzalo Garcia, Arda Guler, and Aurelien Tchouameni have been the best of all. The best part of his system is that Xabi changes the formations as per the need in the game. This was something that was missing from Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid team.
Xabi prefers playing back three more, which helps the team defend more strongly. His fullbacks play more attacking as they have cover from the three defenders at the back. Arda Guler is a free man, as he drops deep and takes the ball forward, and at times provides those life-breaking passes. Apart from him, Fede Valverde is the leader and helps more offensively and defensively, and penetrates the midfield.
Defensive concerns for Real Madrid- Dean Huijsen’s absence
Dean Huijsen will be a very big miss for the Spanish team, Real Madrid. The things he provides in the backline are what no other players can do in this Xabi system on the team. His progressive passing and being calm under pressure will be what Real Madrid will miss in the semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain. Raul Acensio is likely to take his place in the backline.
Basically, one of the other biggest concerns for the defence is how Trent Alexander-Arnold will defend. The unstoppable trio of Paris Saint-Germain, who features Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue, and Ousmane Dembele. He will have to be on his feet for every second in the game. Trent was better defensively in the last game against Dortmund, but this time he has to be at his best.
