Arsene Wenger has reacted to the claims made by former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp about the ongoing Club World Cup tournament.
The tournament has been heavily criticised for low attendances, storm delays and sweltering temperatures. FIFA have also been criticized for not putting players welfare into consideration with numerous players now featuring in over 70 matches in a year thanks to the expanded tournament.
Joining the leagues of stakeholders in the sport to share their observation, Klopp called the Club World Cup ‘the worst idea ever implemented in football’ but Wenger doesn’t agree, and believes he isn’t alone.
The FIFA chief of global football development has been forced into action with Klopp leading the dissent over the controversial Club World Cup.
Juergen Klopp is not pleased with the ongoing Club World Cup. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
The former long-time Arsenal manager commented: “Everybody is entitled in our world to have an opinion. I don’t share the opinion of Jurgen Klopp at all.
“I feel that the Club World Cup – a real Club World Cup – is needed.
“If you make an inquiry today with all the clubs that were here in this competition, I’m basically sure that 100 per cent of the answers of people would want to do this again.
“So, that’s basically the best answer – it’s not my opinion, it’s not Jurgen Klopp’s opinion – it’s what the clubs who participated in this competition think of this competition and I’m convinced that it will be very positive.”
Klopp isn’t the only prominent voice to come out against the tournament, though, with Ballon d’Or contender and Barcelona talisman Raphinha also hugely critical.
“As a player for a European club, I think we’re supposed to be on vacation, right?” he said.
“It’s complicated for us to have to give up our vacation. We have a right to it. Everyone deserves at least three weeks or a month of vacation.
“Many of those who are at the World Cup won’t get it. No one asked the players if they agreed with the dates.”
Paris Saint-Germain will face Chelsea in the tournament’s final. It’s left to see how participating teams in the Club World Cup will outline their preseason plan.
