PSG Slams Klub-WM Turf: "Bouncing Like Bunnies" Leads to Coaching Rant
PSG advances to the club championship, facing scrutiny to secure the trophy
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Once again, the Klub-WM stumbles on US soil. This time, it's Paris Saint-Germain's coach, Luis Enrique, raising eyebrows over the pitch conditions during their 2:0 victory over Seattle Sounders. The coach accused the dry turf of resembling a rabbit's playground and hinted at unimaginable NBA court havoc.
TheGame inLumen Field, Seattle's multi-purpose stadium hosting six World Cup games, saw an artificial turf replaced with a hybrid one for Klub-WM. Apart from Sounders, the NFL's Seattle Seahawks call it home. Luis Enrique lamented that the ball was "bouncing like rabbits" in the game. He couldn't envision an NBA court marred with holes, reflecting the ball's popularity in the States.
Moreover, he highlighted post-halftime watering efforts only to see the pitch dry up again, worsening the conditions for his team. He criticized the differences between US and European playing fields.
High-Profile Critics Join the Fray
Enrique isn't the only one voicing concerns. Real Madrid's young talisman, Jude Bellingham, echoed similar thoughts after CF Pachuca's 3:1 defeat. He alleged that the pitches across the tournament weren't up to the mark, slowing down the ball, leading to strained knees, and presenting unfair conditions.
Earlier, FC Porto's clash with Palmeiras drew criticism for the dry, slow MetLife Stadium pitch. The MetLife will host the tournament's final in 2026. Also, the pitch supplier, Tuckahoe Turf Farms, is set to be responsible in 2026.
During the 2024 Copa América in the USA, pitch conditions faced scrutiny due to challenges never seen before, according to FIFA's head of pitch Alan Ferguson [ESPN].
- Paris Saint-Germain
- Klub-WM 2025
- Jude Bellingham
Insight:
While there have been reports of pitch problems affecting performance in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, critics primarily focus on fixture congestion, player welfare, and off-pitch matters like ticket pricing, fan attendance, and organizational communication. Unlike past controversies, no prominent documentation exists about specific hole issues affecting top players regarding the fields' condition. The main concerns revolve around the expanded tournament's player welfare, scheduling, and organizational challenges.
I'm not going to be able to do this football match on this bouncy turf, just like Jude Bellingham expressed his concerns about the playing conditions in other sports games during the Klub-WM 2025.
