Reece James says he and his Chelsea team-mates are not phased by the task of facing PSG.
PSG have been in scintillating form and have humiliated some of the best teams in the world, including Real Madrid in the Club World Cup semi-finals and Inter Milan in the Champions League final.
But James says Chelsea have come a long way in recent months and can compete with Luis Enrique’s side
We are preparing like it’s any other game.
They’re one of the hottest teams in the world right now, but we’ve come a long way on our journey. We believe we can compete.
While PSG have dominated top opposition, James believes Chelsea’s growth in recent months makes them a real threat.
It’s a one-off final. I’ve been in finals as the favourite and still lost. So all the talk about favourites doesn’t matter to us. We’re here to win.
James also highlighted the difficult conditions in the United States as a bigger challenge than any opponent.
The heat, the travel, the pitch quality ; it’s been tough. Playing at 3pm in this climate is brutal, especially without the ball. But we’re adapting.
The skipper, who missed the quarter-final against Palmeiras after pulling out during warm-up, clarified his fitness status:
Let’s put it to bed ; I wasn’t injured. It was muscle tightness. With my history, I didn’t want to take a risk. Thankfully, we won that game.
Chelsea face Luis Enrique’s PSG in what promises to be a high-stakes final, with both teams chasing global glory.
