Club World Cup final scuffle 'should have been avoided' says Luis Enrique / Photo: © AFP
-
Messi v Salah in World Cup last-16 showdown
-
Democrats push key US Senate candidate to quit over sex assault claim
-
Death toll from China storms rises to 15, hundreds injured
-
As South Korean Buddhism woos Gen Z, how hip is too hip?
-
Belgium boosted by Balogun furore: Tielemans
-
'Disappointed' Pochettino says Balogun row no excuse for US World Cup exit
-
Samsung expects 1,800% operating profit leap on AI boom
-
Seoul dives on mixed day in Asia as Samsung fails to ease tech woes
-
Belgium thrash USA to end World Cup dream and set up Spain showdown
-
Belgium dump US out of World Cup after Balogun row
-
France's Le Pen faces pivotal ruling in race for president
-
How US is using cash and threats to dump migrants in Africa
-
NATO allies seek to win over Trump after Iran ire
-
Democrat in key US Senate race denies sex assault claim
-
US leads international concern after China test-fires missile into Pacific
-
Samsung expects 1,800% leap in quarterly operating profit on AI boom
-
Close to tears and on his own as Ronaldo's World Cup dream ends
-
Russian strikes kill at least 26 in Kyiv region on eve of NATO summit
-
Argentina's gruelling World Cup schedule a concern for Scaloni
-
Ronaldo 'won't make rash decisions' following last World Cup game
-
Race to recover bodies ahead of Venezuela quake cleanup
-
Paraguay govt slams lawmaker for racially abusing France's Mbappe
-
Egypt coach Hassan says Palestinian suffering 'a shame on the world'
-
US embraces Balogun World Cup reprieve as world seethes
-
NBA Kings waive six-time All-Star forward DeRozan
-
Spain win it late to give Ronaldo bitter end to World Cup career
-
Greaves and Hope centuries usher West Indies towards safety
-
Spain edge Portugal to end Ronaldo World Cup dream, US eye quarters
-
'I celebrated in bed' -- Norway's Solbakken stays grounded after beating Brazil
-
Spain win it late to bid farewell to Ronaldo at World Cup
-
Canada chooses Germany's TKMS to build new fleet of submarines
-
Trump's fireworks made Washington world's most polluted city
-
Mbappe condemns racist abuse by Paraguayan senator after World Cup clash
-
Stock markets meander as US tech stocks climb
-
FIFA chief forced to defend Balogun World Cup reprieve
-
Britain's Fery stuns Dimitrov, Paolini into Wimbledon quarters
-
Antetokounmpo says goodbye to Milwaukee in video
-
Russian strikes kill 24 in Kyiv region on eve of NATO summit
-
Fairytale Fery sinks Dimitrov to make Grand Slam history at Wimbledon
-
Trump touts latest White House renovation: a new helipad
-
Canadian Artemis II crew member to retire from space agency
-
Fritz powers past Bublik, into Wimbledon last eight again
-
Prince Harry arrives in UK amid security spat
-
Ovechkin won't say next NHL season will be his last
-
'Agony' in Cuba amid third nationwide blackout in six months
-
Djokovic, Sinner aim to book Wimbledon blockbuster
-
For Trump's World Cup, 'America First' collides with world's game
-
Record fireworks display choked Washington in toxic smoke
-
England's World Cup campaign takes flight with Mexico win
-
Macron in Syria on first post-Assad visit by West European head of state
Club World Cup final scuffle 'should have been avoided' says Luis Enrique
Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique said he was "just trying to separate the players" after being caught up in a scuffle on the pitch at the end of his team's 3-0 defeat to Chelsea in the Club World Cup final on Sunday.
Television footage showed the PSG boss raising his arm to the neck of Joao Pedro, who had earlier scored Chelsea's third goal following a Cole Palmer brace at the MetLife Stadium.
"There was pushing and shoving, a lot of tension and pressure. The situation obviously should have been avoided," Luis Enrique told reporters.
"My intention was clearly to just try to separate the players."
He admitted that Chelsea were deserved winners as he urged his team to enjoy a short summer break at the end of a remarkable campaign.
Defeat for PSG denied them what would have been a stunning clean sweep of trophies as they failed to add the Club World Cup to the UEFA Champions League and French league and cup double they claimed in May.
"I think over the course of the game they deserved their win. They played very well," Luis Enrique said.
"I said beforehand that Chelsea were a very good team and they deserve their victory and the trophy."
A historic season for PSG ends after 11 months and 65 matches, and they now have exactly one month before returning to action in August -- there will be another trophy on the line in their next game, against Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Super Cup.
"I think is important for us to enjoy our holidays. They will be very short. But we need to make the most of them," he said.
PSG's victory in this year's Champions League also means they will have another crack at winning the Club World Cup when they participate in the next edition, which is due to take place in 2029.
"I think this tournament was born out of the need to know who the best team in the world is. I think it is an interesting format and I think it could become a real top-level competition," said the Spaniard.
"There is just the difficulty of finding space for it in the current calendar, but I think it is an interesting tournament -- we had the chance to win it but there was another team who were better than us in the final."
T.Zimmermann--VB