Paris Saint-Germain manager, Luis Enrique, has attributed the heated altercation between his players and Chelsea’s squad after the Club World Cup final to overwhelming tension and pressure.

Chelsea delivered a dominant performance, defeating PSG 3-0 at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to clinch the 2025 Club World Cup title. However, the match ended in controversy as a scuffle broke out following the final whistle. Players, coaches, and support staff from both sides became involved in the melee.

Addressing the incident in a post-match interview, Enrique stated, “There was pushing and shoving, a lot of tension and pressure. The situation obviously should have been avoided. My intention was clearly to just try to separate the players.”

Despite his explanation, television footage appeared to show Enrique raising his hand to the neck of Chelsea’s recent signing, Joao Pedro. The incident sparked mixed reactions among fans and pundits, some questioning the PSG manager’s role in escalating the conflict.

Enrique, however, maintained that he was only trying to defuse the situation as tempers flared at full time.

The governing body of the tournament is expected to review the footage and determine whether any disciplinary actions will follow.