Yes, if we look at it from this perspective, maybe you are right. Because the players are playing matches again without getting enough rest and they are catching up with form. Especially Real Madrid needs to play with each other a lot. Because the team is trying to adapt to each other with the new coach. The best way to do this is to play matches frequently. Real Madrid is doing very well right now, but I don't know if they can continue it.
The FIFA Club World Cup matches are like warm-up matches for Real Madrid. Real Madrid is not considering this title very seriously. However, Xabi is getting the opportunity to experiment with his squad in this tournament. To test the capabilities of the players. And in the last few matches we have seen Xabi conducting various experiments with this squad.
Why will you call full participation In a major tournament as this as mere experimentation? This looks like an excuse already for any poor performance from real Madrid as though they are not looking for the chance of winning it. Everyone that's participating in this tournament has just one thing in mind, that's the fact that they want to win games, get to the finals and eventually win in the finals. If any other team has for once dreamt of it, then real Madrid wishes even more than ever to win this most expecially considering that they where unable to win in the last champions league.
If they are able to win the club world cup, it's then that they can boost that they are fully set for the coming champions league. If PSG goes on to win it even after winning the champions league, PSG will come back into the champions league with ? determination that they are going to win the champions league at cost since they are even the defending champions.
I also think that Paris Saint Germain are favourites to win the cup again, it seems absurd but it's like that, they are good, they have gained experience, they have freed themselves of useless burdens and they seem to be very determined to win again, and that doesn't surprise me, they are also young