Chelsea Manager Upset Over Club World Cup Weather Delay

Enzo Maresca expressed frustration after Chelsea's Club World Cup match against Benfica was delayed for nearly five hours due to bad weather, calling the situation 'a joke' and 'not football'.

The game, which Chelsea won 4-1 after extra time, was halted for almost two hours because of a thunderstorm in Charlotte.

Chelsea was close to victory with a 1-0 lead from Reece James' free-kick when the match was paused, leading to extra time where Benfica equalized with a controversial penalty.

Despite the delay, Chelsea secured the win with goals from Gianluca Prestianni, Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

Maresca criticized the repeated suspensions in the tournament, suggesting that the USA might not be the suitable location for such events.

He praised his team for their resilience and performance in adverse conditions, advancing to face Palmeiras in the quarter-finals.

Moises Caicedo, who played a key role in the match, expressed confidence in the team's ability to progress further in the tournament.

The game was part of a series of matches affected by severe weather conditions in the USA, causing delays in various cities.

The delay during Chelsea's game was extensively covered live, with updates on the evolving situation and the eventual resumption of play after nearly two hours.

Chelsea will now play Palmeiras in the quarter-finals at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

According to the source: Sky Sports.