Fernandez warns about 'dangerous' heat
The inaugural 32-team Club World Cup, which concludes on Sunday with Chelsea facing Paris Saint-Germain in the final at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, has delivered a spectacle on the pitch but concerns over player welfare and lukewarm attendances in the U.S. have sparked a debate.
Tuesday's semi-final between Chelsea and Fluminense which took place at 3 p.m. local time in New Jersey saw temperatures soar past 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) with over 54% humidity, prompting a National Weather Service warning.
Soaring temperatures in several cities hosting the Club World Cup have been a focal point in the tournament, which is seen as a dry run for next year's men's World Cup.
"Honestly, the heat is incredible. The other day I had to lie down on the ground because I was really dizzy," Fernandez told reporters on Friday. "Playing in this temperature is very dangerous, it's very dangerous. Moreover, for the spectacle, for the people who come to enjoy the stadium, for the people who watch it at home.
"The game, the speed of the game is not the same, everything becomes very slow. "Well, let's hope that next year they change the schedule, at least so that it remains a beautiful and attractive football spectacle, right?" the 2022 World Cup winner with Argentina added.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has also previously complained about the heat, saying it was "impossible" to organise regular training sessions in the afternoons in Philadelphia.
"Some places have been really hot, the last round was hot and I was stuck watching it and I was thinking: 'wow, this is so tough.' I felt bad for them but they managed it really well," Chelsea centre back Levi Colwill said.
PSG's success lies in team ethic: Enrique
Paris St. Germain manager Luis Enrique emphasised on Friday that the key to his side's resurgence is a collective team ethic rather than reliance on individual brilliance, as the French and European champions prepare to face Chelsea in Sunday's Club World Cup final.
The Parisians, buoyed by their historic Champions League triumph a little over a month ago, are chasing their first Club World Cup title.
Luis Enrique has overseen a significant transformation at PSG, replacing departing stars Neymar, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappe with a dynamic, youthful squad that embodies his total football philosophy.
Speaking at a press conference at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the Spaniard downplayed suggestions that he is the team's central figure, instead crediting the players' shared commitment to a common goal.
"I'm not a star... I like the work I do. I enjoy my career, especially during difficult times," Luis Enrique said. "When things aren't going well, I feel better. It's nice when everything works out because the best thing about winning is making the people who follow us happy. I've been much better when I've been criticised than when I've been praised."
Luis Enrique, who previously guided Barcelona to Champions League glory, hinted that this campaign could be among the finest of his managerial career but stressed that success would only be defined after Sunday's final.
"Maybe this could be the best season of my coaching career. But there's still a final to win. When we've won it, we'll talk about it," he said.
The Spaniard also highlighted the volatile nature of football, citing Manchester City's recent struggles as a cautionary tale.
"We've seen Manchester City, for example. They won everything last year and then they lose 10 games and they're crushed. Pep Guardiola is still the best coach in the world and they're killing him. So I prefer criticism over praise because it makes you feel humble, it's the crude reality."
Luis Enrique reiterated his vision for a team-first approach, declaring, "We have to be a team with eleven stars, not just one or two. Not even eleven, maybe thirteen, fifteen stars... The real star should be the entire team. That's what our club stands for. We'll lose again soon, for sure. We want stars, but in the service of the team."
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