Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Klopp worried by new pitch ahead of UCL final

Written by 
Published in Soccer
Saturday, 28 May 2022 03:20

Jurgen Klopp has raised concerns about the playing surface at the Stade de France ahead of Saturday's Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid, saying it was an "interesting idea" to lay a new pitch less than 72 hours before kick-off in Paris.

The entire grass surface at the stadium, which last hosted a Champions League final when Barcelona defeated Arsenal in 2006, was removed on Tuesday and relaid over the following two days, with the work only being completed in the early hours of Thursday morning.

- Ogden: Why Salah is causing Liverpool a headache
- Liverpool, Real Madrid's UCL final wins -- ranked!

Although both Liverpool and Madrid spent an hour training on the pitch on Friday evening, Klopp said that it is "not perfect."

And while the Liverpool manager was keen to stress that he was not "moaning" about the playing surface, he voiced concerns over the timing of the operation to roll out a new pitch.

"I don't know how bad or good it is, I only saw it," Klopp said. "The refs were training on it and I saw the ball bouncing.

"Maybe it's perfect, but it looks not perfect. I hope no one makes a story about 'Klopp moaning about the pitch.' I'm fine.

"This pitch is new since yesterday, which is not the best news. But it will be the same for both teams. You can see the lines where they put the pieces of the pitch [together], which is what we aren't used to.

"That someone thought it was a good idea to bring the pitch the day before to the stadium is an interesting idea. But it didn't kill my mood a percent. I am really happy we are here, I would have played the game on pétanque."

Despite the issue with the pitch, Klopp said it would impact on the quality of the game in which Real are chasing a 14th Champions League triumph and Liverpool their seventh.

"I think both teams are technical teams and you would wish in a dream world that the pitch is the best you ever saw in your life," Klopp said. "That's obviously not the case. You will hear the same from Carlo [Ancelotti]. Definitely if you win you don't care about the pitch, that is easy to say."

Read 178 times

Soccer

Source: Al Nassr interested in Utd's Fernandes

Source: Al Nassr interested in Utd's Fernandes

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsAl Nassr are one of the Saudi Pro League clubs interested in signin...

Sources: Utd women not told of cancelled awards

Sources: Utd women not told of cancelled awards

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsManchester United's women's team found out the club's end of season...

FIFA to clear path for LaLiga, PL games in U.S.

FIFA to clear path for LaLiga, PL games in U.S.

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsFIFA has moved towards ending decades of football tradition by revi...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Banged-up Cavs add LeVert to G5 injury report

Banged-up Cavs add LeVert to G5 injury report

EmailPrintIn addition to Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (calf) and center Jarrett Allen (rib) agai...

Playing with LeBron 'not my mindset,' Bronny says

Playing with LeBron 'not my mindset,' Bronny says

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCHICAGO -- As Bronny James leaned back in his chair and surveyed th...

Baseball

'NBA teams have been tracking this kind of stuff for years': Why load management is MLB's next big thing

'NBA teams have been tracking this kind of stuff for years': Why load management is MLB's next big thing

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsFOR DECADES, the story of a major league game has been told by the...

Mizuhara pleads not guilty in procedural step

Mizuhara pleads not guilty in procedural step

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLOS ANGELES -- The former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated