Temperatures could reach over 100C fahrenheit for the first time in 13 years in Philadelphia Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca says it is "impossible" to organise normal training sessions amid a "code red" severe heat warning in Philadelphia at the Club World Cup. The Blues players trained at Subaru Park, the home of local Major League soccer side Philadelphia Union, in 37C heat. The 45 percent humidity means it feels more like 45C, according to accuweather.com and temperatures on Monday were predicted to to reach over 100C Fahrenheit (37.78C) for the first time in 13 years. "This morning's session has been very, very, very short," said Maresca, adding that "otherwise you don't save energy for the game". "It's been just about tomorrow's game, planning for tomorrow, and that's it. No more than that," the Italian added. "As you can see, it's not easy in these conditions with these temperatures. We are going to try to do our best." The local public authority has warned people in Philadelphia to avoid "work in high heat environments" and "strenuous physical activity". However, some matches at Fifa's newly expanded tournament have kicked off in the middle of the afternoon, with temperatures at their highest. "It's difficult to work with these temperatures but we are here and we trying to do our best and we will try to win tomorrow," said Maresca. Similar problems have been faced by other clubs, raising concerns about the United States co-hosting the World Cup at this time next year. Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovac said he was "sweating like I've just come out of a sauna" after his side beat Mamelodi Sundowns in 32C heat in Cincinnati on Saturday. After Atletico Madrid's 4-0 defeat by Paris St-Germain in 32C in Pasadena, midfielder Marcos Llorente said it was "terribly hot" and added "my toes were sore, my nails were hurting... it's incredible". Chelsea are under pressure for their final Group D match against Tunisia's ES Tunis after losing 3-1 to Brazilian club Flamengo last time around. The Blues need to avoid defeat to qualify as runners up, which would secure last-16 tie against Bayern Munich, Benfica or Boca Juniors. Captain Reece James is a doubt through because he is "ill" and Nicolas Jackson is suspended after his red card last week and was left out of the open training session on Monday. Chelsea's players had what was described as a "very short" training session at Subaru Park as medical staff watched on. There were crates of iced water bottles around the pitch and drinks offered at every opportunity in between drills. Huge fans were placed on the sides of the pitch, blowing water spray at the players, and they trained in the only partially-shaded of the open stadium in Chester, Pennsylvania, just outside of Philadelphia. When asked about the conditions, defender Marc Cucurella said: "It takes some getting used to, and it's true we played a lot of games last season, but we know we have a job to do here, and we want to go far in the tournament."
'Impossible to train' - Chelsea face record heat in Philadelphia
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"Chelsea FC Faces Extreme Heat During Training in Philadelphia"
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TruthLens AI Summary
Chelsea FC is facing unprecedented heat conditions during their training sessions in Philadelphia, where temperatures are expected to soar over 100 degrees Fahrenheit for the first time in 13 years. The club's manager, Enzo Maresca, has described the situation as "impossible" for normal training due to a severe heat warning. The players trained under extreme conditions at Subaru Park, home of the Philadelphia Union, where the temperature felt like 45 degrees Celsius due to high humidity. Maresca emphasized that the training session was kept exceptionally short to conserve energy for their crucial match against Tunisia's ES Tunis. He remarked that the focus has shifted solely to preparing for the game, given the intensity of the heat. Local authorities have issued warnings advising residents to avoid strenuous activity in such extreme temperatures, raising concerns about the viability of hosting international tournaments like the World Cup in similar conditions next year.
The challenges posed by the heat extend beyond Chelsea, as other teams participating in the Club World Cup have also reported difficulties. Borussia Dortmund's manager noted the oppressive heat following their match in Cincinnati, while Atletico Madrid's players expressed discomfort after competing in similar conditions in Pasadena. As Chelsea prepares for their decisive match, they are under pressure to secure a positive result after a recent loss. The team faces additional hurdles with captain Reece James being ill and Nicolas Jackson suspended. During training, medical staff closely monitored the players, who were provided with iced water and cooling fans to help combat the heat. Defender Marc Cucurella acknowledged the difficulty of adjusting to such extreme conditions but stressed the team's commitment to performing well in the tournament despite the challenges they face.
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