Chelsea’s Brazilian striker Joao Pedro didn’t hold back in his criticism after Paris Saint‑Germain’s fiery post-match conduct marred the Club World Cup final.
Joao Pedro brands PSG ‘Bad Losers’ after Club World Cup
Following Chelsea’s 3–0 victory over PSG at MetLife Stadium, emotions erupted—and Joao Pedro feels PSG showed a crippling inability to cope with defeat.
Moments after Cole Palmer’s first-half brace and Pedro’s thunderous strike sealed the win, tension spilled onto the pitch.
PSG midfielder Joao Neves was sent off, and chaos reigned. Joao Pedro stepped forward to protect his teammate, Andrey Santos, from confrontations involving Gianluigi Donnarumma and Achraf Hakimi.
Luis Enrique appeared to hit Joao Pedro in the face as PSG and Chelsea got into it after the final. pic.twitter.com/7C2a0Dpujp
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 13, 2025
But instead of defusing the situation, PSG head coach Luis Enrique confronted the 23‑year‑old, shoving him in the face and sending him to the turf.
Pedro showed remarkable composure in the aftermath. “I went to protect Andrey… like a good Brazilian,” he told Sportv.
“In that mess, I got shoved. It’s part of it. They didn’t know how to lose, but that’s football.”
He later remarked in the mixed zone that PSG “lost their heads,” reinforcing his belief that they were “bad losers”.
Luis Enrique, however, maintained that his intent was to calm the situation, not escalate it: “I tried to separate players… we should have all prevented escalation,” he said, adding that Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca was equally involved in the shoving match.
But critics argue the coach’s actions—captured on camera—went too far and may invite a heavy FIFA sanction.
Despite PSG’s historic treble-winning campaign, which included their first UEFA Champions League title, the final’s ugly end leaves a bitter aftertaste.
Luis Enrique, undeterred, insisted after the match, “We are not losers… a loser is someone who gives up”
