Luis Enrique, the manager of Paris Saint-Germain, has criticized the kick-off times at the Club World Cup.
Enrique cautioned that the conditions in the summer heat of the US are not ideal for top-level football.
He spoke after PSG’s 4-0 victory over Atletico Madrid in their first group game on Sunday.
The match, which took place at noon in Pasadena, Los Angeles, began under extreme conditions, with temperatures approaching 40°C in the sun and humidity at 60%.
Enrique stated: “The temperature clearly influenced the match.
“While the time slot works well for European audiences, the teams are struggling.
“With regard to play, it’s impossible to maintain a very high level of performance for 90 minutes.”
PSG will face Botafogo once more in Pasadena at 6 PM local time, while Atletico Madrid heads to Seattle, where the temperature is expected to be a much cooler 19°C.
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