Grumpy Maresca still hopeful Chelsea can win Club World Cup he thinks needs fixing

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Soccer Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Chelsea Training - New York City Football Club Academy, Orangeborough, New York, U.S. - July 7, 2025 Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca during training REUTERS/Lee Smith

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca remains one of the Club World Cups harshest critics, despite his team reaching the semi-finals, and continued a stream of complaints about everything from the weather to the scheduling ahead of Tuesdays clash with Fluminense.

The Italian has repeatedly complained about the heat, the calendar and the toll on his players fitness at the tournament, while also criticising FIFA for the weather delay that interrupted his teams round-of-16 clash against Benfica for nearly two hours.

On Monday, ahead of the semi-final against Fluminense, the Chelsea boss refused to accept that his Premier League side were favourites, instead arguing that the tournament calendar unfairly benefited South American teams.

Maresca said the South American sides had arrived with fresh legs in midseason while the Europeans were exhausted at the end of a long campaign.

It is not that we dont see this tournament as important, its that teams have arrived in two completely different situations and realities. How many games have the Brazilian team played in their current season? We have played 63 games, Maresca told a press conference.

Maresca said Chelsea took the competition seriously but structural improvements were needed.

I see the Club World Cup as a top competition and we