Maurizio Sarri on the Club World Cup: “Everyone has realised that something is wrong” | OneFootball

Former Lazio, Napoli and Juventus boss Maurizio Sarri has spoken out about the FIFA Club World Cup, criticising the tournament for even existing.

Sarri has been vocal about footballers playing excessive number of games over the last few seasons and he had previously criticised the fact that the Club World Cup was going to take place. He has been rather open about his views regarding the direction in which the game is going.

He spoke to press during the Panchina D’Oro ceremony and he was asked directly about the tournament. The Italian stated that he was the first person to criticise the tournament but he was called out for his comments back then.

He said, via TMW: “I said things about the calendar and I was made out to be a complainer, now everyone says them.”

Speaking further, he said: “Everyone has realised that something is wrong: I was the first to say it and I was made out to be a pain in the a**. It’s a tournament that will end when other teams are in retreat, what are we talking about.”

Inter and Juventus will be playing in the competition at the end of the season and for Serie A clubs, it hands them more money, even if they will play some extra games. But Sarri’s argument is quite relevant, especially considering his previous comments about how playing extra games drains the quality of the games on show.

Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN