'Strange' to play in front of 50,000 empty seats: Chelsea's Maresca
ATLANTA: Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca labelled the atmosphere in his team's opening Club World Cup game on Monday "strange" after the Blues triumphed in front of nearly 50,000 empty seats.
The UEFA Conference League winners defeated Los Angeles FC 2-0 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta with only 22,000 fans present at the 71,000-capacity arena.
"The environment was a bit strange, the stadium was almost empty, not full," Maresca told reporters.
"We are professional, we have to adapt to the situation, to the environment...
"It's important the behaviour of the players, the attitude, and once again they showed how professional they are."
The Chelsea coach said his team had expected a larger crowd, but were hopeful they would get that in their second game against Flamengo of Brazil in Philadelphia.
"We prepared this game also thinking that the environment was a bit different, but no doubt that the next one will be a nice one, because we know that the Brazilian teams, they always bring many, many fans," he added.
Over 60,000 spectators attended the opening match between Lionel Messi's Inter Miami and Al Ahly on Saturday, while 80,000 were present at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Sunday for the clash between UEFA Champions League winners Paris-Saint Germain and Atletico Madrid.
Plenty of Boca Juniors fans created a raucous atmosphere later on Monday for their match against Benfica at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
With Chelsea playing at 3pm local time on a working Monday, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium was under a third full.
MLS side Atlanta United average nearly 45,000 fans at their matches and are the best supported US team.
"PSG against Atletico, in front of a big crowd at the Rose Bowl...so I don't know if there's just more fans in Los Angeles who are into this tournament than here, or if it's the pairing tonight," said LA coach Steve Cherundolo.
However the American said it was too early to judge FIFA's new expanded competition on the basis of just one match.
"Regarding crowds I think it's kind of different each game you look at, so I don't think we should be talking about this right now," he added.
"I think we should wait until the end of the tournament...(to make) an opinion about it as a whole, as opposed to one game."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Soccer-Boca Juniors still in the mix at Club World Cup but may rue Benfica draw
Soccer Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Group C - Boca Juniors v Benfica - Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, U.S. - June 16, 2025 Boca Juniors players look dejected after the match REUTERS/Hannah Mckay MIAMI (Reuters) -Boca Juniors are still in the hunt for a place in the Club World Cup knockout rounds after their 2-2 draw with Benfica on Monday but their task would have been so much easier had they not squandered a two-goal lead against the Portuguese side. Boca next face Group C favourites Bayern Munich, who thrashed Auckland City 10-0 in their opener, and the race to finish second behind the German champions could come down to goal difference. While Boca were competitive and showed they deserve to share the stage with a strong side like Benfica coach Miguel Angel Russo believes there is still a gap between South American and European teams. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT: Thousands of hardcore Boca Juniors fans are bringing extreme passion to the tournament and should the team exit before the knockout stages it would deal a heavy blow to the atmosphere at the event. On Monday, Boca Juniors fans turned the Hard Rock Stadium into a sea of blue and gold. KEY QUOTES: Boca Juniors captain Miguel Merentiel: "It's a strange feeling, to be honest. It leaves a bit of a bitter taste, and now it's about moving forward. Now, we'll focus on believing in ourselves, in our own tools, and we'll come out in the next match to give our best." Boca Juniors coach Russo: "Benfica suffered at times ... because Boca played a game they weren't expecting. "I think, at least for us Argentines, the gap is still very big with European teams. Maybe someday it'll close but not yet. We have to keep working, fighting, looking for ways." Benfica coach Bruno Lage: "We started the game well, we were the better team but we conceded two goals and it's difficult to accept. "Our first goal was important, then we made more runs into the box and we could have won the game." (Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
Free Malaysia Today
3 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Chelsea defeat LAFC in poorly-attended Club World Cup opener
LAFC's Timothy Tillman (left) fends off a challenge from Chelsea's Liam Delap during the group stage match in Atlanta. (EPA Images pic) ATLANTA : Chelsea kicked off their Club World Cup campaign with a solid 2-0 victory over Los Angeles FC on Monday in Group D, although there were nearly 50,000 empty seats in the stadium in Atlanta. Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez's goals got the Blues off to a good start in a competitive clash against one of the three qualified MLS teams. New signing Liam Delap made his debut as a substitute and helped set up Fernandez's strike, with Chelsea hoping to reestablish themselves among the elite after their Uefa Conference League triumph and Champions League qualification. Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca said it was a 'very good result' and was happy with Delap's display. 'The good thing about Liam is he knows the way we want to play, so the process is quite quick,' said the Italian. After a solid start to the tournament regarding attendance numbers over the opening weekend, a sparse crowd of just over 22,000 settled in at the stylish 71,000 capacity Mercedes-Benz Stadium. 'The environment was a bit strange, the stadium was almost empty, not full,' Maresca told reporters. Behind former Tottenham Hotspur stopper Hugo Lloris' goal in the first half, a couple of hundred LAFC 'ultras' helped provide an atmosphere with a drum beat and constant song. The closed stadium roof offered refuge from the Georgia humidity and mid-afternoon summer sun which Paris St-Germain and Atletico Madrid stars roasted under on Sunday at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. However, the attendance suffered badly because of the 3pm local time kick-off. Despite regular strong crowds for MLS side Atlanta United, the best supported US team, few locals decided to take a Monday off work for the tournament's first weekday afternoon game, seemingly chosen to suit a British television audience. After beating Club America in a play-off to qualify for the competition as late as May, LAFC took the place of the banned Mexican side Club Leon, and play none of their three group games at home in California. The top ring of the stadium was entirely shut and other levels were only partly filled, despite ticket prices dropping in the days ahead of the game. It was the first real blow for organisers Fifa's expanded competition, which is also being viewed as a trial run ahead of the 2026 World Cup, hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico. Chelsea took control from the start, with Lloris saving from Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke, while Cole Palmer whistled a strike narrowly over. With new signing Delap looking on from the bench, Jackson played like a man determined to keep his starting spot. The striker was instrumental in Neto's opener, releasing the Portuguese winger with an excellent through ball. Neto chopped in the box to leave LA defender Ryan Hollingshead stumbling helplessly out of sight and then buried a powerful strike past Lloris low at the near post. Delap debut Former Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud came on at half-time for the Americans and Steve Cherundolo's team improved in the second half. Jackson came close with a header and LA almost levelled but Sanchez made a fine save with his outstretched leg to thwart 2023 MLS golden boot winner Denis Bouanga after he shook off Neto. Maresca brought on 22-year-old striker Delap for his Chelsea debut after the hour mark, having begun the game with all of the club's new faces on the bench. The forward drove into space and tried to tee up Fernandez with a promising first move in a Chelsea shirt since his arrival from relegated Ipswich Town. Chelsea star Palmer, who had shown occasional flashes of brilliance, hammered over before Fernandez grabbed Chelsea's second. Running into the six-yard box, the Argentine midfielder controlled Delap's cross from the right and beat Lloris to put the game to bed. 'Regarding crowds I think it's kind of different each game you look at so I don't think we should be talking about this right now,' said LA coach Cherundolo. 'I think we should wait until the end of the tournament…(to make) an opinion about it as a whole, as opposed to one game.' Elsewhere in Group D Esperance Tunis face Brazil's Flamengo later on Monday.
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Inter Milan ready to turn page in Club World Cup opener: Chivu
PASADENA, UNITED STATES: Inter Milan's new coach Cristian Chivu said Monday the Italian giants are ready to put recent history behind them as they prepare for their Club World Cup opener against Mexican side Monterrey. Inter kick off their Group E campaign at the Pasadena Rose Bowl on Tuesday, just over two weeks after being thrashed 5-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the heaviest UEFA Champions League final defeat in history. That mauling in Munich came hard on the heels of domestic heartbreak, with the Italians finishing one point behind eventual champions Napoli after a tense title race that went down to the wire. Chivu, who was last week named as the successor to departing Inter coach Simone Inzaghi, said the Club World Cup represented a chance to turn the page. "You mustn't think about the past," Chivu told a press conference. "We cannot do anything about the past. You can't change the past. "So this is the end of the 2024-2025 season and it is a competition that you need to honour. "A team like Inter comes here, and they need to be the best version of themselves that they can be. "We mustn't try to find excuses or alibis for our physical condition or our mental condition. "We are ready. We've worked very hard these past few days. We've been trying to create a united squad and a mental and physical serenity that will allow us to have a good performance." Inter, who also face Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds and Argentina's River Plate in Group E, will be lining up against a Monterrey side led by former Real Madrid stalwart Sergio Ramos, who joined the club earlier this year. "We have a lot of respect for Inter," Ramos said Tuesday. "Obviously they have many more names, they're much bigger favourites than us – but it's also a great opportunity. "We're going to go toe-to-toe against every opponent and give it our all."
