Paris Saint-Germain manager, Luis Enrique, has voiced concerns over the scheduling of matches at the FIFA Club World Cup, citing extreme heat as a major challenge for players.
Speaking after PSG’s dominant 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid in their opening Group B match on Sunday, Enrique highlighted the difficulty of playing top-level football in the sweltering conditions of a US summer.
The match, held at noon in Pasadena, Los Angeles, was played under intense heat, with temperatures nearing 40°C and humidity levels around 60%.
“The match was clearly affected by the temperature,” Enrique said. “While the kick-off time may suit European TV audiences, the players are struggling. It’s impossible to maintain high-level performance for the full 90 minutes in such conditions.”
PSG are scheduled to face Brazil’s Botafogo in Pasadena again, but with a later 6 p.m. kick-off. Atletico Madrid, meanwhile, will head to Seattle, where much cooler weather is expected.
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