Barcelona legend Hristo Stoichkov has expressed his disappointment with Jurgen Klopp and Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca’s criticism of the FIFA Club World Cup. Klopp had previously described the tournament as the “worst idea ever in football,” while Maresca slammed the two-hour weather delay that disrupted their match, calling it a “joke.” Stoichkov believes that their complaints are unwarranted and lack respect for the tournament.
In an interview with El Mundo, Stoichkov stated, “I didn’t expect that from Jürgen. I have so much respect for him that maybe if he’s a little angry it’s because Salzburg aren’t (any longer) in the competition because he’s a director of Red Bull.” He added, “When Liverpool were playing nobody complained, when they receive money nobody complains. I think we need to have more respect in these tournaments.”
Stoichkov highlighted the unique aspects of the Club World Cup, saying, “I had the chance to play in it in the past, when it was just a few matches, but I think that both Gianni (Infantino) and FIFA have done something different.
You bring together many cultures, new systems, new tactics, many different teams that didn’t know each other before playing in a tournament like this.” He emphasized that everything about the tournament is “fantastically good,” noting that the fans have been consistently present, except for one match where there were warnings of suspension due to thunderstorms.
Stoichkov also responded to Maresca’s complaints about the rain, saying, “Yesterday Maresca (Chelsea manager, Enzo) also complained about the rain, but what do we do? Do we give Infantino a remote control to stop the rain? They complain about everything.” His comments underscore the challenges of hosting a global tournament and the need for participants to adapt to different conditions.
The debate surrounding the Club World Cup highlights the diverse perspectives on the tournament’s value and logistics. While some critics, like Klopp and Maresca, question its relevance and timing, others, like Stoichkov, see it as a valuable opportunity for teams from different cultures and systems to compete and learn from each other.