Arsene Wenger has hit back at the claim of Jurgen Klopp that the club World Cup is 'the worst idea ever in football'.
The former Arsenal boss, now FIFA's leader of global football development, insisted that the competition is 'needed' and defended the quality of football and higher than expected attendees. Wenger also shared the opinion that all participating clubs would make the chance to compete again.
“Everyone has the right to their opinion,” said the Frenchman. “I don't share the opinion of Jurgen Klopp. The World Cup Club is needed. 100 percent of the clubs here want to do this again. '
Apart from the final, the renewed competition of 32 teams is completed, but it is still difficult to judge the brainchild of FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Both the quality of football and those present have been important points of talks, with stifling warm conditions, non-ending matches and half empty stadiums that often contribute to a strange experience.
FIFA has tried to tackle the presence problem on daring, sometimes ingenious ways that justify any credit. On various occasions during the tournament, the administrative body essentially melted tickets, lowered prices and even hand out free spaces.
This seems to have helped in some of the more controversial competitions, in particular with the European elite and the well -supported Brazilian contingent.
But countless matches in the group stage and the round of 16 were played in bare environments.
Last month, Klopp published his frustration with the extra load that the tournament players imposed in an already saturated schedule.
Speaking with the German newspaper Welt Am Sonntag, he said: 'People who have never had anything to do with daily affairs come up with ideas.
'I fear that players will be injured next season that they have never had before. If not, it will take place at the World Cup or afterwards. '
Notwithstanding the freak injury to Bayern Munich -star Jamal Musiala, muscle injuries or those associated with overload have not been abundant. But the impact on players later in the season is still to be seen.
At the moment, finalist Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain will probably comfort the large amounts that have been earned by only four weeks in work.
Both parties have placed around £ 80 million, with another £ 12 million for the taking to win the Sunday final.