Arsene Wenger dismissed Jurgen Klopp's negative comments about FIFA's revamped 32-team Club World Cup, stating it is a "fantastic competition" well supported by teams, players, and managers. Wenger emphasized the importance of the tournament and noted high attendance figures despite projections. He acknowledged challenges, such as summer heat in the U.S., but highlighted the learning opportunities the tournament presents ahead of the 2026 World Cup. He praised the quality of grass pitches and mentioned Philadelphia's surface as a future benchmark.
Wenger stated, "Everyone is entitled to an opinion, and I don't share Jurgen Klopp's view at all. I feel that a Club World Cup, a REAL Club World Cup was needed."
Wenger highlighted the success of the tournament with regard to attendance, saying, "Attendance projections were low, but in reality, they were much higher. The answer is there."
Wenger acknowledged challenges posed by the summer heat in the U.S., saying, "The heat in some games was a problem. We tried to combat that with cooling breaks and watering the pitches during breaks."
Wenger praised the quality of natural grass pitches and noted that, "Philadelphia's surface would serve as a benchmark for future competitions in the U.S."
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