Dortmund's Kovac doesn't share Chelsea coach criticism on CWC
Atlanta, Georgia
Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac does not share the sharp criticism by Chelsea helmsman Enzo Maresca on some aspects of the Club World Cup.
'You can't do anything about the weather. We have climate change. It affects all of us. We all have to deal with it,' Kovac said ahead of Tuesday night's last 16 match against Mexican side Monterrey.
Maresca had questioned whether the United States were the right host of the tournament, and next year's World Cup, after Chelsea's last 16 match with Benfica was stopped for two hours due to a storm warning.
Several other matches have seen similar interruptions, and others were played in extreme heat.
Kovac voiced understanding about the frustration over the delays but said that safety comes first.
The coach also said he considers the tournament 'great' and spoke of big enthusiasm especially among the smaller non-European teams.
However, he named too high ticket prices as one reason for many empty seats at the event, with Dortmund's last group match against Ulsan HD attended by just around 8,000 fans.
Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl struck a similar note in an interview with Germany's Süddeutsche Zeitung as he criticised ticket prices as well as mid-day and early afternoon kick-off times.
'If matches are played at noon or 3pm you have to get the people so excited that they leave their workplace. They have to take time off.
You can encourage that with a sensible ticket pricing policy,' Kehl said.
In team news, Kovac said that Dortmund will be without Carney Chukwuemeka due to illness against Monterrey, while Julian Brandt does not require surgery on a wrist fracture.
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