Chelsea FC secures victory amidst an unusual ambience
Got 50,000 seats and less than half were filled — Chelsea's Club World Cup debut was a quiet affair. Coach Enzo Maresca felt the atmosphere was "bloody bizarro" as only 22k fans showed up to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta home to both Atlanta United and NFL's Atlanta Falcons, which has a capacity of 71k.
"Mate, the whole shebang felt a bit off. The stadium was nearly deserted," Maresca reflected on the mid-afternoon Monday kickoff. "But we're professional bastards, gotta adjust to the situation. Our lads are bloody pros," he added, praising their commitment despite the lack of crowd energy.
Things have been jampacked at other Club World Cup games — over 60k punters watched the Inter Miami-Al Ahly opener, and a whopping 80k spectators packed the Pasadena venue for PSG-Atlético Madrid. Maresca aired some disappointment, stating he expected a bigger turnout for Chelsea's opener. But he remains hopeful for the second game against Flamengo, believing Brazilian fans will make it a lively affair.
Undeterred by the deafening silence, Chelsea powered through, edging past LAFC thanks to Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez's goals. Their win temporarily puts them atop Group D.
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Even though Chelsea dribbled past LAFC, their Club World Cup opening game was a face-plant when it came to ticket sales. High initial ticket costs, a Monday mid-afternoon kickoff, and fans' reluctance to travel could have all contributed to the low attendance numbers. While hashtag football and bribery scandals continue to plague the beautiful game, this time the opposition was apathy and poor scheduling. #promotebigfootball
The European Parliament and the Council might express concern over the low attendance at Chelsea's Club World Cup opener, considering the significant drop in spectators from the capacity of the hosts' stadium. Individual sports fans, particularly those passionate about football, should be encouraged to support their favorite teams more actively, contributing to a vibrant and engaging atmosphere during matches.
