Chelsea Boss Maresca Blasts 'Joke' Club World Cup Weather Delays, Questions U.S. Hosting Choice

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has voiced his concerns regarding the United States' suitability as host for the Club World Cup. He described the two-hour weather delay during his team's round-of-16 victory over Benfica as "a joke."

The Blues secured a quarterfinal spot against Palmeiras with a 4-1 extra-time win in a match marked by the competition's second-longest weather-related interruption.

Reece James had put Chelsea ahead with a 64th-minute free kick before Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic halted play due to nearby lightning with four minutes remaining in regulation time.

Upon resumption, with a significant portion of the 25,929 spectators having departed, Benfica received a stoppage-time penalty for a Malo Gusto handball. Ángel Di María converted the penalty, sending the game into extra time.

Following Gianluca Prestianni's 92nd-minute red card, Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scored in extra time. Despite the victory, Maresca expressed his frustration with the logistical challenges caused by the delays.

Notably, the Saturday game marked the sixth Club World Cup match disrupted by weather this year.

Maresca stated, "We didn't concede anything; we created enough chances to win the game. After the break, the game changed completely. For me personally, it's not football. There have already been seven, eight, nine games suspended. I think it's a joke, to be honest; it's not football. You can't be inside [for so long]."

He further elaborated, "If you suspend seven, eight games, that means that probably is not the right place to do this competition. I can understand that for security reasons, you have to suspend the game. But it's completely something new but I struggle to understand."

Maresca acknowledged the prestige of the competition but questioned the high number of suspensions. "Please, don't misunderstand me. I said it's a fantastic competition. It's a Club World Cup. It's top. We are happy to be in the last eight. We are happy to win all these kind of things."

"But something happens, six, seven games suspended, probably the ones that they decide, they need a reason, because it's not normal to suspend a game. In a World Cup, how many games are suspended? Zero, probably. In Europe, how many games? Zero."

"We are here, two weeks, they're already suspended six, seven games. There is some problem for me personally. When you are two hours inside, you try to keep them in the game, but for two hours, they are speaking with the family outside for safety reasons. They are eating something, they are playing, they are laughing. How can you keep them two hours inside, focused? It's a joke." Maresca concluded.