Chelsea preparation feels rushed as Benfica talk up challenges
Chelsea's news conference with Enzo Maresca - in addition to chats with three players - to preview the Club World Cup last-16 match against Benfica was all a bit rushed.The Blues flew in late from their training base on the south beach in Miami having pre-booked it in the hope they would win the group.However, a 3-1 defeat by Flamengo meant Chelsea finished second, despite victories in the other two Group D matches against Los Angeles FC and ES Tunis.That has led to a Champions League-style matchday - the Blues flying into Charlotte for just one night, with the preview activity done at 20:00 local time (the equivalent of 01:00 BST) and then playing the game at the Bank of America Stadium. Chelsea were previously based in Philadelphia, where they played two matches. They would return there for their quarter-final should they beat Benfica on Saturday, but they will not switch their base back to the city.Instead, they will stay in Miami before potentially basing themselves in New York for the semi-final and final if they go deep into the tournament.This is the best way for Chelsea to manage a challenging post-season tournament in significant heat, as staff just attempt to get their players through each round and see how far it takes them.Similarly, Benfica manager Bruno Lage was talking up the challenges of the tournament, from the heat to the travel and the workload on his players after a long season, and how it will impact their 2025-26 campaign. All the European clubs involved are trying their best to cope with these challenges and are maybe not the best versions of themselves.
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