It's a joke – Enzo Maresca unhappy at long delay in Chelsea-Benfica tie
The tie took almost five hours to complete after the teams were forced inside, with the Blues 1-0 up with four minutes remaining thanks to Reece James' free-kick, due to 'the risk of lightning in the vicinity of Bank of America Stadium'.
On the resumption, Angel Di Maria equalised with a controversial stoppage-time penalty to take the game to extra time, only for Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to seal Chelsea's win.
Game started Saturday and ended Sunday 🤣
— Trevoh Chalobah (@TrevohChalobah) June 29, 2025
Maresca, in his press conference, said of the long delay: 'I think it's a joke, to be honest.
'It's not football, it's completely something new, I struggle to understand.
'I can understand if it's security reasons but if you suspend seven or eight games then it's probably not the right place to do the competition.
'It's not normal to suspend the game. In a World Cup, how many games are suspended? Zero probably. In Europe how many games get suspended? Zero.
'We've been here two weeks and they've already suspended six or seven games, there is some problems for me personally.
Meanwhile, in the dressing room. pic.twitter.com/UZPsVkNvHr
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) June 28, 2025
'I'm talking as a manager because when you're two hours inside and you have to try to keep them (the players) in the game, they're speaking to their families outside for safety reasons, they're eating, they're playing, they're laughing, how can you keep them inside focused for two hours? It's a joke.'
One of Maresca's players at least was able to make light of the delay, which saw the game finish at 1.40am UK time, with defender Trevoh Chalobah posting on social media: 'Game started Saturday and ended Sunday'.
Players were pictured riding exercise bikes and kicking balls in the dressing room during the enforced break and Maresca told broadcaster DAZN: 'Especially when it's 85 minutes, five minutes to go, it's very difficult.
🚲⏳ pic.twitter.com/L5jTCaQBBi
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) June 28, 2025
'But we tried to keep them in the best way we could in that moment and, at the end, we are in the last eight teams here in this competition and we are very happy.'
Gianluca Prestianni saw red for Bruno Lage's men in extra time for a second yellow card as Chelsea booked their place against Palmeiras in the quarter-finals.
The Blues could now come up against Palmeiras' Stamford Bridge-bound Estevao Willian, whose side defeated fellow Brazilian club Botafogo on Saturday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
37 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Ally McCoist slams Club World Cup as Rangers legend admits ‘I haven't watched it, I didn't have any interest'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE Club World Cup is reaching its final stages over in the United States. And it's fair to say Fifa's glitzy new-look tournament has more than divided opinion. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 3 Ally McCoist isn't a fan of the Club World Cup Credit: Alamy 3 The Rangers legend is back on media duties after a gruelling charity cycle Credit: PA 3 Chelsea's clash with Benfica was heavily delayed in Charlotte Credit: Getty The world's biggest clubs have descended on the USA for a month-long football extravaganza. Although the tournament has been around for some time, this is the first time it's taken place in it's current format with 32 teams taking part across a month-long competition. Bayern Munich, Chelsea, PSG, Palmeiras and Real Madrid are among the teams still standing with the round of 16 almost complete. While there's been plenty of great football on show, the competition has been heavily criticised. Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has branded it 'the worst idea ever' in relation to the strain being put on players. The Premier League winner highlighted concerns over the fact players participating would get 'no real recovery' with the Club World Cup taking place between the end of last season and the start of the next one. Those sentiments have been echoed across the board. The weather has also proved a problem, with several games heavily delayed. On Saturday night, Chelsea beat Benfica 4-1 after extra time in in Charlotte, North Carolina. But the last 16 clash took more than FOUR HOURS to complete after a two-hour weather delay. Ally McCoist confesses to 'horrendous' epic fail ahead of final day of Rangers legend's charity bike ride Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca was fuming about the lengthy delay and has blasted: "I think it's a joke, to be honest. "It's not football, it's completely something new. I struggle to understand. "I can understand if it's security reasons but if you suspend seven or eight games then it's probably not the right place to do the competition. "It's not normal to suspend the game. In a World Cup, how many games are suspended? Zero probably. In Europe how many games get suspended? Zero." Someone else who isn't a fan of the competition is Ally McCoist. The Rangers legend was back on talkSPORT Breakfast duties today after a bit of time away - time away that included a gruelling charity cycle across Ireland. Those other endeavours meant McCoist didn't have much time to sit in front of the telly to watch the football - but he's admitted he didn't really have any interest in doing so anyway. Responding to Klopp's brutal comments, McCoist said: "I'm not sure I'd go that far but he's certainly against it. "I'll be brutally honest, I haven't watched it. "I know I've been busy, away cycling and all that stuff. "I'll be honest with you, my boys are watching it, particularity the younger one and I'll watch it now. "I watched the highlights of the Chelsea game, I watched Harry Kane's goals last night. "I'm probably a little bit embarrassed to say, now it's got to the quarter finals, last 16, I will take an interest but I didn't have any interest, seemingly about a million empty seats of people agreed with me." Asked if his new-found interest in the Club World Cup would see him getting up at 2am to watch Man City's clash with Al Hilal tonight, McCoist said: "No. I'll take an interest in the result in that one. "There's been a lot of things. The weather, the times of the kick-offs, I don't care what anybody says, it does affect your interest." Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
BBC News
39 minutes ago
- BBC News
Ireland's women promoted to Pro League for first time
Ireland's women will play in the FIH Pro League for the first time later this year after accepting an invitation from the world governing Grundie's side narrowly missed out on automatic promotion to the sport's highest level of competition after the lost the final of the FIH Nations to New Zealand in defeat, in a shootout, meant New Zealand could have taken their place in the Pro League but declined the are the ninth and final team to be confirmed for the seventh edition of the Pro League. They will play alongside the World's top sides, including Olympic gold medallists Netherlands, Olympic Bronze medallists Argentina, and World number 3 other countries taking part are Germany, England, China, Australia and currently ranked eleven in the world, will replace India in next season's competition, following their relegation on timing of their inclusion in the competition couldn't be better with qualification for the 2026 World Cup coming up at the start of next year and will provide the best preparation for the squad."I am delighted that we have been given the opportunity to participate in the FIH Pro League 2025/26 Season 7,' said Ireland Women's Head Coach Gareth Grundie.'It's a testament to the quality of play this team has achieved to date and is an excellent and invaluable opportunity for further improvement. 'It comes at an ideal time for us as a programme also, pitting us against the World's best teams as we go in search of qualification for the 2026 FIH World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium."The Irish squad, currently preparing for the European Championships in August, will find out their Pro League schedule shortly.
BBC News
44 minutes ago
- BBC News
Activity to switch to player sales
Supporters of other clubs might well be thinking 'not another Chelsea transfer' or 'not another striker'.The Blues have again moved aggressively and decisively in the current transfer window to add two more forwards in Gittens and Joao Pedro, having also signed Liam Delap from Ipswich in a £30m looks like Chelsea are stockpiling more talent having spent around £170m on young players this summer, including Portuguese midfielder Dario Essugo and French defender Mamadou the Blues believe there is space for all the attackers to thrive, especially in a season where they will return to the Champions League following this lucrative Club World Cup Pedro's arrival is expected to spark an exit for Frenchman Christopher Nkunku as they are two similar types of versatile Gittens will replace Jadon Sancho, who returned to Manchester United for a £5m penalty fee following his recent loan spell, with Mykhailo Mudryk still provisionally suspended after failing a drugs 22, bolsters an attack that lacked a suitable option when Nicolas Jackson was unavailable, while England international Noni Madueke could also be moved on following the arrival of 18-year-old Brazilian Estevao Willian from done a lot of deals already, sources say Chelsea will now slow their activity on incomings and focus on the difficult task of player one weakness with this approach is clubs interested in their fringe or wantaway players could try to force cheaper Felix, Raheem Sterling, Armando Broja and Carney Chukwuemeka are not with the squad in America and set to be offloaded it would be unfair to say Chelsea don't have a plan and their embarrassment of riches in attack is something their supporters can be pleased about as they pursue success next season.
