Enzo Maresca was left furious with the two-hour delay in Chelsea's dramatic victory against Benfica in Charlotte.

The Blues were a goal ahead and in control against the Portuguese side before a thunderstorm forced the players and supporters to seek shelter. The game was suspended and play did not resume for a further two hours.

Maresca - understandably - had some strong opinions on the events in Charlotte. Here is every word from a fascinating

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How hard was it to play after a two-hour stoppage?

I think I've been clear for 85 minutes we were in control of the game. We didn't concede nothing, we created chances enough to win the game. And then after the break, the game changed completely. I think for me personally it's not football.

It's already seven, eight, nine games that they suspended. I think it's a joke to be honest, it's not football. It's not for us. You cannot be inside. It's completely something you know, but I struggle to understand. I can understand that for security reasons, you are to suspend the game. But if you suspend seven, eight games, that means that probably is not the right place to do this competition.

It probably increases the risk of your players perhaps picking up injuries as well, I suppose, when you have such downtime. Is that what you're also upset about?

I'm very happy. We are in the last eight of this fantastic competition, Club World Cup, Chelsea's in the last eight. I think for 85 minutes we didn't concede nothing. The team was very good. For me, one of the best performances in the last weeks and months.

The problem is that when the game is suspended, it's not football. Guys, it's not football. You suspend the game, it's not football. It's completely something different. So I'm happy, very happy. But at the same time, there are teams that you struggle to understand for two hours before the game and then go again. And you see it. They scored because they need to chase. We are inside, we are winning. You go outside, mentally different. It's difficult.

We saw your players going on the bikes during the stoppage and trying to keep warm. I guess there was a lot of frustration because of how long it took. So how did you manage to keep your players calm so they were ready to come back out to win?

As I said, the game was very good for 85 minutes. Then we had an hour and a half, two-hour stop. Then it started completely different. It's not the same game. It's not the same game because you break the tempo. So two hours inside; people speak with the family outside, if they were good, the security. People eating, people laughing, people talking on the mobile. It's two hours. That's why I said it's not football.

It's something that you struggle to understand. But we tried to go out, continue in the same way, knowing that it was difficult. It's not random that for 85 minutes, we didn't concede nothing. And then for five minutes, we conceded a few chances. Why? It's because it started a completely different game. It's not normal. It's not football.

You said it's not the right place to do the competition. Can I just clarify, first of all, if you meant this stadium itself? And also, just what you made of the penalty. Because it seemed very, very harsh.

No, no, no. I'm saying that. I ask you, if in this competition, they already suspended six, seven, eight games, probably there is something that is not working well. Because in a football game, it's not normal to suspend a game. This is what I said. And then the penalty is penalty. But the free=kick is not free-kick.

Just on the two-hour delay, would you like to see a time limit brought in that says there's a cut-off, whether it's half an hour, an hour, but it can't go for two hours?

Guys, I'm not here to decide the rule. I'm no one to decide the rule. I'm the last one. I'm talking as a manager. As a manager, it's difficult to manage two hours suspended. Then when it's five minutes to go, then which one is the solution? I don't have any idea. I don't have any idea. The only question is, if they're already suspended six, seven, eight games, probably there is something that is not working.

Are stoppages like this damaging for what is a new competition?

No, it's just – guys, please, don't misunderstand me. I said it's a fantastic competition. It's a Club World Cup. It's top. We are happy to be in the last eight. We are happy to win all these kind of things. But something happens, six, seven games suspended, probably the one that they decide, they need a reason, because it's not normal to suspend a game. In a World Cup, how many games are suspended? Zero, probably. In Europe, how many games? Zero.

We are here, two weeks, they're already suspended six, seven games. There is some problem for me personally. But I'm not talking – I'm talking as a manager. Because when you are two hours inside and you try to keep them in the game, but for two hours, they are speaking with the family outside for safety reasons. They are eating something, they are playing, they are laughing. How can you keep them two hours inside, focused? It's a joke. That's why I said it. Then we are happy. We are happy to be here. We are happy to be in this competition. But it's something that it's not normal for.