Club World Cup reaction: Chelsea backed to keep the trophies coming

Blues backed to keep the trophies coming

Chelsea caught Paris Saint-Germain by surprise with their superb performance in the Club World Cup final and their exploits have generated an immediate reaction from punters and bookmakers, who are scrambling to reassess the Londoners' prospects in time for the 2025-26 campaign.

While Chelsea were cruising to a 3-0 victory over a PSG team widely touted as the best in club football, there was a surge in support for them across a range of long-term markets.

And the frequency of wagers was acknowledged by bet365's Steve Freeth, who said: “As soon as Cole Palmer put them 1-0 up it was one-way traffic in the Premier League outright market with punters rushing to take the 12-1 about them lifting the trophy for the first time since 2017. After taking more than 1,500 bets on such an eventuality, Chelsea are now trading at 8-1."

Chelsea's 2025-26 Odds

Odds correct at time of publication

Chelsea's odds to win next season's Champions League also took a hit with bet365 shortening them from 18-1 to 12-1.

And there was movement in bet365's FA Cup and EFL Cup markets with Chelsea's respective odds shifting from 10-1 to 7-1 and from 9-1 to 8-1.

Backing for Chelsea took place during and immediately after the Club World Cup final, although there had been steady support for Maresca's side over the course of the tournament.

Chelsea's 2025-26 Premier League odds were widely quoted at 20-1 before they made the trip Stateside, so they were winning plenty of admirers even before the moment of triumph when Blues' captain, Reece James, held the trophy aloft.

Despite approaching the final as 17-4 underdogs to win without extra-time, it is undeniable that Chelsea were worthy winners.

They worked with a modest 33.5 per cent share of possession, but were able to force PSG out of their comfort zone and severely limit the threat to Robert Sanchez's goal.

Enzo Maresca's outfit had a clear offensive plan which involved overloading the right hand side and exploiting the defensive weakness of PSG left-back Nuno Mendes.

It was a tactical masterclass from Maresca, who deployed James in a midfield position and afforded Cole Palmer the freedom and space he needed to influence the game. 

Chelsea saved their best display for when it mattered most, although they had previously delivered steady improvements which had allowed them to work their way through a favourable section of the draw.

Chelsea's first six Premier League fixtures

At the very end there were understandably raucous celebrations, although there is limited scope for an extended party with Chelsea starting the Premier League season in just over a month with a home match against Crystal Palace.

Two more London derbies – a trip to West Ham and a home game with Fulham – are on Chelsea's schedule before the September international break and it will be fascinating to see how the Blues fare in those early weeks of the campaign.

Maresca will do his best to afford players a much-needed break, but he is at a clear disadvantage compared with the vast majority of other Premier League managers, who have already welcomed their players back after the summer recess.

Manchester City were the only other English team involved at the Club World Cup and, while they were disappointed with their round-of-16 exit, it has given them a 13-day start on Chelsea in terms of getting players ready for the new campaign.

Chelsea backers might argue that the timing of the September international break – after just three rounds of top-flight fixtures – works in the club's favour.

The success or failure of a title challenge is unlikely to be decided within such a short timeframe, but a poor start might take some of the wind out of the sails and put added pressure on the fixtures to come.

Premier League Outright Odds

And there is the possibility of Chelsea players returning in a reasonably fit state, only to suffer a delayed reaction at a later stage.

Careful use of the squad will be crucial and, given the money made over the last few weeks, there should be ample opportunities to add further depth and quality to the group.

However, Chelsea's young squad seemed to suffer a mental dip at the mid-point of last season, with just nine points taken from a disappointing ten-game spell, and that perhaps should be a warning to punters, who have been quick to get on the Blues' bandwagon. 

Winning the Club World Cup off the back of a gruelling domestic season was doable because must of the other big European teams were in the same boat.

Attempting to win a Premier League against rivals who have benefitted from a full pre-season might be a step too far.

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