Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has admitted that the atmosphere during the Blues’ Club World Cup opener against LAFC felt unusual because of the limited number of supporters in attendance. Softfootball reports that Maresca described the situation as strange after Chelsea secured a 2-0 victory in their opening fixture of the expanded tournament.
The Club World Cup has attracted significant global attention because of its new 32-team format, but attendance figures at some matches have generated discussion. Chelsea’s opening game was one of the fixtures where the crowd did not match the scale normally associated with a major international competition.
On the pitch, Chelsea remained focused and produced a professional performance to claim three points. Goals from the London side ensured Maresca’s team made a positive start to their campaign. The Italian coach will nevertheless want his players to maintain concentration as the level of opposition increases.
Chelsea are expected to challenge for the trophy and cannot afford to underestimate any opponent. The tournament also provides Maresca with an opportunity to continue developing his squad while competing for silverware. Chelsea will now turn their attention to their next group fixture, where another strong result would move them closer to qualification. Despite
