Latest news with #Maresca
Daily Maverick
an hour ago
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
Club World Cup organisers hopeful of a change in fortunes after stuttering start
The first round of the Club World Cup's group matches recently concluded, with the poor attendance of some clashes catching the eye more than the actual soccer. The previous iteration of the Club World Cup (which featured just seven teams) was seen as an afterthought and a lucrative distraction, rather than a title stacked in prestige. By spearheading the birth of this new version of the Club World Cup, Fifa president Gianni Infantino is hoping that he can be forever etched in the history books as a soccer revolutionary – not just another sports administrator. So far, this quest has proven to be a bit bumpy, after an indifferent start to a US-hosted tournament. Issues such as low attendance for some games, as well as scorching summer heat in the host country, have diluted the impact of the revamped tournament. While some matches have been able to draw substantial crowds, other clashes have seen substandard attendance. Considering that the US is not a soccer-crazy nation — with the citizens of the country preferring their own sports (such as basketball and baseball) — it is hardly surprising. Not to mention that even those who do follow soccer in the US will not be acquainted with some of the 32 teams present at the World Cup, save for those who come from Europe. Empty seats For example, the best-attended match to date featured two European teams — newly crowned continental champions Paris Saint-Germain and Atlético Madrid. In the end, the clash was not as competitive as the 80,000-strong crowd that filled the Rose Bowl Stadium in Los Angeles would have expected. The Parisians pummelled Atlético 4-0. The lowest attendance at a match in the first round of the group was the tie between South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns and Ulsan of South Korea. This contest — which Sundowns won 1-0 — featured just over 3,000 spectators at the Inter & Co Stadium in Florida. According to Fifa the first round of matches at the World Cup averaged 34,773 spectators per match. This is far from being a horrendous return. But the fact that the venues that have been chosen to host the matches are mostly large in capacity has not helped Fifa's cause. England's Chelsea, who qualified for the World Cup because of their 2021 European Champions League triumph, beat Los Angeles 2-0 in the pair's opening match. However, well over half of the seats at the 75,000-seater Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta were not occupied. This is something Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca branded as 'strange' for his team. 'The environment was a bit strange, the stadium was almost empty, not full,' Maresca said. 'We are professional, we have to adapt to the situation, to the environment… The behaviour and the attitude of the players is important (in such situations) and once again they showed how professional they are.' Early days Maresca's Los Angeles counterpart Steve Cherundolo said that while the poor attendance for most matches in the first round was far from satisfactory, it was too early in the history of the expanded World Cup to sound the death knell on overall interest in the tournament. 'Regarding crowds… It's kind of different each game you look at. So, we should be talking about this right now,' Cherundolo stated. 'We should wait until the end of the tournament… (so that we can have) an opinion about it as a whole, as opposed to a few games.' The rejigged showpiece — which has moved from being an annual competition to being one that will take place every four years — is taking place with a background of some political tension, both in the US and globally. Political impact Since the re-election of president Donald Trump in 2024 the US has adopted a controversial foreign policy. This has been characterised by the deportation of migrants and stricter criteria for awarding visas to visitors. Supporters from other countries interested in attending the event might have been put off by these two factors in particular. Nevertheless, Fifa has said about 1.5-million tickets have been sold for the Club World Cup, which also serves as precursor for the national World Cup next year. That one will be hosted by the US, alongside Mexico and Canada. One major concern for Fifa will be the weather conditions in the US summer, especially before next year's World Cup. A few teams have lamented the heat of the US summer, with some matches kicking off in the afternoon — while temperatures are still high. 'Playing in this heat is impossible,' Atlético's Marcos Llorente lamented. 'The heat is terrible. My toes hurt, even my toenails. It's unbelievable, but since it's the same for everyone there's no point complaining.' The organisers have mandated water breaks in matches because of the scorching temperatures. However, some matches have also been disrupted by thunder storms. The organisers of the World Cup are still hopeful that the tide will turn as the tournament progresses, especially in the knockout phase. DM
RTÉ News
4 hours ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Chelsea boss yet to speak to Mykhailo Mudryk on doping charges
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has revealed he has not yet spoken to winger Mykhailo Mudryk since the Ukrainian was charged with violating anti-doping rules. The 24-year-old is facing a lengthy ban after the Football Association announced on Thursday it had charged the player. Mudryk has not played since being suspended last December after testing positive for a prohibited substance. He was last seen in public at the Europa Conference League final in Wroclaw last month having attended in a private capacity. Mudryk is not allowed to train with the squad, who are currently at the Club World Cup in the United States. Speaking ahead of the Blues' second match of the tournament against Flamengo in Philadelphia on Friday, Maresca said: "I spoke with 'Misha' in Poland when we played the Conference League final but I didn't speak with him since that time. "To be honest, I didn't see the news. They communicated (it to) me last night. There is nothing more that I can add at the moment because I don't have more information." Chelsea did not officially comment after the charges were announced but have previously said they are supporting the player. Maresca said: "The last time I spoke with Misha he was quite good. I didn't see him worried, or at least I didn't see him not good. It was OK. "I don't know how he is now but for sure in the next days, weeks, we're going to have a talk." Chelsea are in the market for a new winger this summer, and have been heavily linked with Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Gittens, but Maresca says that is not because of the Mudryk situation. The Italian said: "We had already one entire season, almost, without Misha. "We've decided to go for a winger not because of Misha. It's something quite clear, it's a position that we need to improve." Maresca dismissed speculation over the future of another winger in England international Noni Madueke, with reports Arsenal are monitoring his situation. Maresca said: "Noni is our player. In this moment, you can read much speculation about many players, but Noni is our player. We consider Noni our player for next season." Maresca is set to make changes to his side for the Flamengo clash at Lincoln Financial Field due to the anticipated heat. The Blues, who opened their campaign in Group D with a 2-0 win over LAFC, are set to face the Brazilians at 2pm local time, with the temperature forecast to reach 28C. Maresca said: "It's not easy because of the temperature. This is the reason why we're going to try to rotate players. "Unfortunately for us, as a Brazilian team, they are more used to playing in this temperature - but it doesn't matter. We're going to try to do our best to win the game." 200658 JUN 25
Rhyl Journal
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca yet to speak to Mykhailo Mudryk after doping charges
The 24-year-old is facing a lengthy ban after the Football Association announced on Friday it had charged the player. Mudryk has not played since being suspended last December after testing positive for a prohibited substance. He was last seen in public at the Europa Conference League final in Wroclaw last month having attended in a private capacity. Mudryk is not allowed to train with the squad, who are currently at the Club World Cup in the United States. Speaking ahead of the Blues' second match of the tournament against Flamengo in Philadelphia on Friday, Maresca said: 'I spoke with 'Misha' in Poland when we played the Conference League final but I didn't speak with him since that time. 'To be honest, I didn't see the news. They communicated (it to) me last night. There is nothing more that I can add at the moment because I don't have more information.' Chelsea did not officially comment after the charges were announced but have previously said they are supporting the player. Maresca said: 'The last time I spoke with Misha he was quite good. I didn't see him worried, or at least I didn't see him not good. It was OK. 'I don't know how he is now but for sure in the next days, weeks, we're going to have a talk.' Chelsea are in the market for a new winger this summer, and have been heavily linked with Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Gittens, but Maresca says that is not because of the Mudryk situation. The Italian said: 'We had already one entire season, almost, without Misha. 'We've decided to go for a winger not because of Misha. It's something quite clear, it's a position that we need to improve.' Maresca dismissed speculation over the future of another winger in England international Noni Madueke, with reports Arsenal are monitoring his situation. Maresca said: 'Noni is our player. In this moment, you can read much speculation about many players, but Noni is our player. We consider Noni our player for next season.' Maresca is set to make changes to his side for the Flamengo clash at Lincoln Financial Field due to the anticipated heat. The Blues, who opened their campaign in Group D with a 2-0 win over LAFC, are set to face the Brazilians at 2pm local time, with the temperature forecast to reach 28C. Maresca said: 'It's not easy because of the temperature. This is the reason why we're going to try to rotate players. 'Unfortunately for us, as a Brazilian team, they are more used to playing in this temperature – but it doesn't matter. We're going to try to do our best to win the game.'
Leader Live
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca yet to speak to Mykhailo Mudryk after doping charges
The 24-year-old is facing a lengthy ban after the Football Association announced on Friday it had charged the player. Mudryk has not played since being suspended last December after testing positive for a prohibited substance. He was last seen in public at the Europa Conference League final in Wroclaw last month having attended in a private capacity. Mudryk is not allowed to train with the squad, who are currently at the Club World Cup in the United States. Speaking ahead of the Blues' second match of the tournament against Flamengo in Philadelphia on Friday, Maresca said: 'I spoke with 'Misha' in Poland when we played the Conference League final but I didn't speak with him since that time. 'To be honest, I didn't see the news. They communicated (it to) me last night. There is nothing more that I can add at the moment because I don't have more information.' Chelsea did not officially comment after the charges were announced but have previously said they are supporting the player. Maresca said: 'The last time I spoke with Misha he was quite good. I didn't see him worried, or at least I didn't see him not good. It was OK. 'I don't know how he is now but for sure in the next days, weeks, we're going to have a talk.' Chelsea are in the market for a new winger this summer, and have been heavily linked with Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Gittens, but Maresca says that is not because of the Mudryk situation. The Italian said: 'We had already one entire season, almost, without Misha. 'We've decided to go for a winger not because of Misha. It's something quite clear, it's a position that we need to improve.' Maresca dismissed speculation over the future of another winger in England international Noni Madueke, with reports Arsenal are monitoring his situation. Maresca said: 'Noni is our player. In this moment, you can read much speculation about many players, but Noni is our player. We consider Noni our player for next season.' Maresca is set to make changes to his side for the Flamengo clash at Lincoln Financial Field due to the anticipated heat. The Blues, who opened their campaign in Group D with a 2-0 win over LAFC, are set to face the Brazilians at 2pm local time, with the temperature forecast to reach 28C. Maresca said: 'It's not easy because of the temperature. This is the reason why we're going to try to rotate players. 'Unfortunately for us, as a Brazilian team, they are more used to playing in this temperature – but it doesn't matter. We're going to try to do our best to win the game.'
Straits Times
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca ‘trusts' Mykhailo Mudryk after doping charge
Chelsea's Mykhailo Mudryk could face up to a suspension of four years following his positive drug test. PHOTO: REUTERS PHILADELPHIA – Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said on June 19 that he still maintained trust in Mykhailo Mudryk, after the Ukrainian winger was charged by England's Football Association (FA) with violating anti-doping rules. But he also confirmed that the club were looking to strengthen in his position. 'Mischa is a Chelsea player. As long as he is a Chelsea player, I will trust all the Chelsea players,' Maresca told reporters in Philadelphia ahead of his team's Club World Cup clash with Flamengo on June 20. Mudryk has not played for Chelsea since Nov 28 following his provisional suspension by the FA for an 'adverse finding in a routine urine test' in December. He was reported to have had the prohibited performance-enhancing substance meldonium in his positive test and could face a potential ban of up to four years under FA rules. Mudryk, who has denied intentional wrongdoing, is not with the Chelsea squad for the tournament in the United States and Maresca said he has had no contact with the player since the Uefa Conference League final win over Real Betis in Poland late in May. 'The last time I spoke with Mischa was in Poland and he was quite good,' he said. 'Since that day I have not spoken with him so I don't know how he is now but for sure in the next days, in the next weeks, we are going to have contact with him.' Mudryk was signed from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023 for €100 million but his time at Chelsea has been dogged by inconsistency. He has scored just 10 goals in 73 appearances in all competitions for the Blues. Maresca revealed that he is hoping to sign a new wide attacker before the start of the Premier League season. 'We had already one entire season almost without Mischa, last season, and we tried to find different solutions with some of the academy players, like Tyrique (George), but we are going to decide to go for a winger,' the Italian said. 'It is quite clear that it is a position we need to improve.' Meanwhile at the Club World Cup, Chelsea can expect to face challenging conditions with heat and humidity rising in Philadelphia in recent days and the match starting at 2pm local time – after press time in Singapore. The game is likely to be key in deciding who tops Group D with both teams fresh from winning their opening match at the tournament – Chelsea got the better of Los Angeles FC in Atlanta while Flamengo defeated Esperance. Maresca added that he has reduced the intensity and duration of training sessions to ensure his players remain competitive for the matches ahead. 'It's not easy because of the temperature,' he said. 'We're going to try to rotate players. We need to rotate three, four, or five players each game. It's impossible for players to be at 100 per cent for 11 months straight.' AFP, REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
