Chelsea supervisor Enzo Maresca has admitted that his facet is struggling to arrange correctly for matches on the Membership World Cup as a result of excessive warmth presently sweeping throughout the East Coast of the US.
With temperatures hovering in Philadelphia, the place the Blues are set to play ES Tunis of their ultimate group stage recreation, Maresca says it’s change into nearly inconceivable to coach underneath regular situations.
“It’s nearly inconceivable to coach a full session due to the climate,” Maresca instructed reporters throughout a press convention forward of the must-win fixture.
With the warmth index within the metropolis reaching 108 levels Fahrenheit (42.2 Celsius), the situations are proving to be a major impediment, not solely to participant efficiency however even to the fundamental logistics of match preparation.
Chelsea’s most up-to-date coaching periods have been intentionally shortened in an effort to protect vitality and keep away from exhaustion earlier than their upcoming match.
“We are attempting to avoid wasting vitality for the sport. This morning’s session was very quick, simply plan for tomorrow, that’s it. Not more than that,” Maresca defined.
Enzo Maresca says the climate situations in Philadelphia are making it more durable to coach 🥵 pic.twitter.com/HPaZY9WE9Y
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) June 24, 2025
“It’s not straightforward with these temperatures, however we are going to give our greatest tomorrow to get to the subsequent stage of the competitors.”
Philadelphia has declared a warmth emergency in response to the dangerously excessive temperatures, that are forecast to persist by way of Wednesday night.
In response, native authorities have opened air-conditioned public areas, together with libraries and group centres, and have launched a medical helpline staffed by professionals to help with heat-related well being considerations.
For Chelsea, the situations have added a tough layer to a event already full of strain. The squad is trying to get better from a disappointing 3-1 loss to Flamengo and now wants a outcome in opposition to ES Tunis to keep away from elimination.
However with the intense climate affecting each facet of preparation, Maresca’s squad has had little alternative however to adapt on the fly.
The warmth has affected extra than simply Chelsea. A number of groups within the competitors have voiced considerations concerning the intense local weather and the broader taking part in situations.
Borussia Dortmund, for example, stored their substitutes contained in the dressing room in the course of the first half of their current match resulting from insufferable temperatures pitchside.
The Membership World Cup is being hosted throughout a number of American cities, lots of that are coping with record-breaking warmth that’s now prompting wider questions concerning the readiness of venues for subsequent yr’s World Cup, which may also happen in the US, Canada, and Mexico.