Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovac suggested the Club World Cup pitches resemble a golf green in that they would be good for practising your putting, but less so for playing games of football.
Dortmund lost 3-2 to Real Madrid on Saturday at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which is where both semi-finals and the final of this tournament will be played.
Real will face Paris Saint-Germain in one of those semis, while Chelsea will meet Fluminense. The 2026 World Cup final will also be held here at this stadium.
After it was confirmed that his side had exited this competition, Kovac said: ‘This pitch and with the pitches we’ve played on in Cincinnati and also in Atlanta, the grass quality is different in the stadiums.
‘It’s more a golf green. You can putt here. It’s very short. This is not the grass we are used to playing on in the Bundesliga and also the other stadiums.
‘As you saw, the watering wasn’t good enough, I’d say, because you don’t have the licence for that. For high-speed football, you need good conditions and you need also a good pitch, the right pitch. When it’s too dry, it’s unbelievable, it’s sticky, I can’t explain it.
‘I would like for you to go out and test it and then you will see how it is.’
Now out of the Club World Cup, Kovac also suggested the kick-off times could be selected more sensibly.
‘We played two times in Cincinnati – the first time, it was 12 o clock, the second time, 3pm. On the pitch we had temperatures of around 45 degrees. If you go out running and the temperature is 45 degrees, this is very hard. Today we had 35 degrees, which is also not much better.
‘But OK, this is the tournament we need to play. My suggestion is that the kick-off times should be a little later. As a spectator, you would like to see intensive, aggressive, up-and-down football. When it’s too hot, it’s difficult to play this kind of football.’
Meanwhile, tickets for the first semi-final, which will be played between Chelsea and Fluminense, were set at more than £300 per person. On Friday, the asking price dropped to £32.66 and on Saturday, it became £9.81.
RapagGHUpcoming
1
After destroying Barcelona 8 this team is turning to man united
samprass101
1
Dortmund has been winning we didn't hear anything from you, now they loses, "pitches are now golf green", good ridance
Nahaciory
0
come to Africa here they play mostly on artificial grass pinches except for proper football pitches of South Africa
Poyadklorz
0
this dud is talking rubbish. you lose the match, period.
Yuuelmry
0
As if the the team that won didn't play on the same pitch.
famcdisuz
0
All a long him a win him no complain..now him lost him doing now..man be fair and take your loses kmt..chelseafc all the way..go my blues brothers
famcdisuz
0
facts bro
voebeipsuy
0
very lazy excuse Mr Kovac, while is it that other teams are playing with the same temperature and on the same pitch and performing better
The winners are waiting until they lose to complain
voebeipsuy
1
Both teams play on the pitches but its only the losers that complain
The winners are waiting till they lose to complain
fatbeikor
0
when a dancer does not perform well,he will complaint about his trouser
or the drummer[Crylaugh]
dougiefresh
1
Both teams play on the pitches but its only the losers that complain
Sugoman
0
The price of one game in zambia is already the monthly of domestic works oh dear me
Fepbcilnoz
0
was he the one who played, I have not heard a player complaining
They did! Several players.
Fepbcilnoz
3
Now everyone will appreciate what Qatar prepared for the best World Cup ever.
nehainory
0
when a dancer does not perform well,he will complaint about his trouser
carvajal33
1
very lazy excuse Mr Kovac, while is it that other teams are playing with the same temperature and on the same pitch and performing better
feaabenory
0
When did he come to know the pitches. So sad 😭😭 accept defeat and move on 😔😔😔.
Dramz13
1
was he the one who played, I have not heard a player complaining
AFerPvxp8676
1
this pitch problem excuse sounds so funny to me,even the opponent who thrashes you has played on the same pitch,so why the complaint [Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
The pitch is shit 😂but that not a excuse too say USA is the worse place too hold this trophy and future tournament the World Cup is going too be the worst one in history
Yicacekopt
0
stories but if you had won to semi finals you won't say such thing nonsense
The_Phoenix
2
🤣 its Hollywood there everything there is just a circus that’s why MLS is sh*t
Toyailmnt
1
on this planet only 1% makes no excuses when lost but 99% makes excuses when lost.
Femadeimy
1
this pitch problem excuse sounds so funny to me,even the opponent who thrashes you has played on the same pitch,so why the complaint [Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
Toyailmnt
2
this is not all about the pitche and weather conditions his players are the problem when they were playing against real Madrid they already surrender because they know they can not beat real Madrid which is bad
AremuT
1
you were in the competition till quarter final but before then no complaint on the pitches....u dey craze
Wieaepst
1
yea %100.... the pitch wasn't in good health at all ...
Cihdeikloy
0
What would he have said if they won. But yes he has a point, Europe likes late games better for players. Cry baby 😭
vuaabdipu
1
The moment they get out of the tournament, they start to criticize everything about it
hans3dominique
0
It’s always a complaint when teams loss
docbceprz
2
USA is still busy fighting wars they don't really care about football
WirelessTg
0
thought we won, but these U.S pitches are shit, did you watch PSG game?
ariwanze
2
...I don't even know what to say. I thought players feel n train on match day stadium before the match.🤷🤷🤷🤷🤷🤷
zuaakotu
4
but the pitch is okay when win?