Chelsea Coach Maresca Reacts to Sparse Crowd at Club World Cup Atlanta Match

Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca described the atmosphere during their Club World Cup opening match against Los Angeles FC as "strange" due to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta being nearly two-thirds empty, with only about 22,000 fans attending out of a 71,000 capacity. Despite the low turnout, Maresca praised his players' professionalism and adaptability to the unusual environment, emphasizing the importance of their attitude and behavior on the pitch. The timing of the match, scheduled at 3:00 pm on a working Monday, likely contributed to the poor attendance, contrasting sharply with other tournament games that drew larger crowds, such as the 80,000 fans at the PSG versus Atletico Madrid match. Maresca expressed optimism that the atmosphere would improve for Chelsea's next game against Flamengo in Philadelphia, anticipating a larger and more passionate Brazilian fanbase. MLS side Atlanta United, who play at the same stadium, typically average nearly 45,000 spectators, highlighting the unusual nature of the low turnout for this Club World Cup fixture. LA coach Steve Cherundolo noted that it was too early to judge the expanded tournament's success based on this one match's attendance.