France international, Malo Gusto, has voiced his optimism ahead of Chelsea’s participation in the newly revamped FIFA Club World Cup, expressing confidence that the competition will be a positive experience for both the club and himself.
The Blues, who clinched the UEFA Conference League title in May, are set to kick off their Club World Cup journey on Monday against Los Angeles FC.
Having already tasted success on the global stage with a Club World Cup title in 2021, Chelsea will be hoping to secure the prestigious trophy for the second time in their history.
Following a productive season that saw him help Chelsea return to Champions League football and lift European silverware, Gusto joined the French national team for Nations League matches against Spain and Germany.
Now, his focus has shifted firmly to Chelsea’s next challenge.
“As players, we are ready,” Gusto told chelseafc.com. “It’s going to be a good competition for the club and me as a player, so I’m happy to be able to play in this competition. I’m happy to play and we’ll try to win. We trained well and we are ready.”
Gusto emphasized the team’s ambition to make a deep run in the tournament, highlighting the fresh start the summer competition offers.
“We want to go deep in this competition. It’s like a new season for us with new players, but the same staff, and we will try to continue to build something between us as a team and create momentum. We want to reinforce the team and the group and try to win this trophy.”
Looking ahead, the 22-year-old sees the tournament as a valuable platform to build momentum heading into the next season.
“These will be tough games, but it will be a good opportunity to win a trophy,” he said. “We want to win more trophies because we are all competitive, so it will be really good to play in these types of games. We want to play this competition, try to win, and then be ready for the next season.”
Gusto also expressed excitement about potentially facing Los Angeles FC striker and fellow Frenchman Olivier Giroud, a former Chelsea star and someone he holds in high regard.
“[Giroud] is a legend for France. The first time I went into the national team, Olivier was there and he was top with me and I have a lot of respect for him. It will be good to play against [Giroud].
“I watched him in terms of prep and the focus he has for games. I like these types of things in football, as it’s important to have these types of players who show you how to behave. It’s about being determined and doing your best on the pitch.”
With a blend of youthful enthusiasm and strong ambition, Gusto and Chelsea aim to make a strong statement on the world stage as they pursue another Club World Cup title.
