Chelsea's Fernandez warns about ‘dangerous' heat at Club World Cup
EAST RUTHERFORD : Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez said the scorching heat at the Club World Cup in the US left him feeling dizzy and described the high temperatures as 'dangerous' to play in.
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 US have sparked a debate.
Tuesday's semi-final between Chelsea and Fluminense which took place at 3pm local time in New Jersey saw temperatures soar past 35°C 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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Real Madrid midfielder Bellingham undergoes successful shoulder surgery
REAL MADRID midfielder Jude Bellingham has successfully undergone surgery to address a long-standing shoulder dislocation issue, the Spanish club said on Wednesday. Bellingham has been managing the injury since 2023, playing with his shoulder strapped, but the 22-year-old decided to go under the knife after Real Madrid's campaign at the Club World Cup, where they lost to Paris St Germain in the semi-finals. "Bellingham will now undergo a period of rehabilitation, prior to returning to training and starting his recovery," Real Madrid said in a statement. The club did not give a timeline on his return but Spanish media reported the England international could miss two to three months of action and potentially return in October.
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Soccer-Real Madrid midfielder Bellingham undergoes successful shoulder surgery
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Group H - RB Salzburg v Real Madrid - Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. - June 26, 2025 Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham applauds fans after being substituted REUTERS/Lee Smith/File Photo (Reuters) -Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham has successfully undergone surgery to address a long-standing shoulder dislocation issue, the Spanish club said on Wednesday. Bellingham has been managing the injury since 2023, playing with his shoulder strapped, but the 22-year-old decided to go under the knife after Real Madrid's campaign at the Club World Cup, where they lost to Paris St Germain in the semi-finals. "Bellingham will now undergo a period of rehabilitation, prior to returning to training and starting his recovery," Real Madrid said in a statement. The club did not give a timeline on his return but Spanish media reported the England international could miss two to three months of action and potentially return in October. Real Madrid begin the new LaLiga season on August 19 with a home game against Osasuna. (Reporting by Rohith Nair in BengaluruEditing by Toby Davis)
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Soccer-Bournemouth sign keeper Petrovic from Chelsea on a five-year deal
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Chelsea v West Ham United - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - May 5, 2024 Chelsea's Djordje Petrovic celebrates their first goal scored by Chelsea's Cole Palmer Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge/File photo (Reuters) -Bournemouth have signed keeper Djordje Petrovic from Chelsea on a five-year contract, both Premier League sides announced on Wednesday, with media reports saying the deal was worth 25 million pounds ($33.44 million). The 25-year-old Serbia international's signing came after Kepa Arrizabalaga, Bournemouth's first-choice keeper last season on loan from Chelsea, joined Arsenal earlier this month. Ireland's Mark Travers, a back-up keeper for Bournemouth, also left for Everton on a four-year deal on Tuesday. Petrovic made 23 Premier League appearances for Chelsea in 2023-24. He was loaned out to Strasbourg last year, where he was named the player of the season after helping them qualify for the UEFA Conference League's playoff round with a seventh-place finish in Ligue 1. "I came to Bournemouth because I want to grow and I want to play at the best level," Petrovic said in a statement. Bournemouth, who finished ninth last season, begin their Premier League campaign with a visit to champions Liverpool on August 15. ($1 = 0.7477 pounds) (Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
