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Magdeburg coach slams pitch after DFB-Pokal win
🇩🇪 Germany /Sports

Magdeburg coach slams pitch after DFB-Pokal win

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Outcome reported
  • Magdeburg coach Petrik Sander heavily criticized the pitch conditions after his team's 4-0 DFB-Pokal win against Bahlinger SC.
  • Sander described the turf as unsuitable for professional football, stating it hindered both teams' ability to play.
  • Bahlinger SC's captain Hasan Pepic disputed Sander's assessment, claiming he had played on worse surfaces over 100 times.

Following Magdeburg's dominant 4-0 victory over Bahlinger SC in the DFB-Pokal first round, coach Petrik Sander launched a scathing critique of the Kaiserstuhlstadion pitch. "We wanted to play football, they wanted to play football, there was only one who didn't allow it, and that was the pitch. You just have to say that clearly," Sander stated bluntly during the post-match press conference.

We wanted to play football, they wanted to play football, there was only one who didn't allow it, and that was the pitch. You just have to say that clearly

— Petrik SanderCriticizing the pitch conditions after the DFB-Pokal match.

Sander expressed his dismay, saying, "I've been around for quite a while, but I haven't experienced anything like this dimension before." He emphasized the need for a "proper surface" to play football, deeming the current ground "not a good surface" and insufficient for the demands of a DFB-Pokal first-round match.

I've been around for quite a while, but I haven't experienced anything like this dimension before. If I want to play football, I need a proper surface. That is not a good surface.

— Petrik SanderDescribing the poor quality of the football pitch.

Despite Sander's strong criticism, he praised Bahlinger SC's coach Marco Schneider and his team for their active approach to the game, acknowledging their "huge compliment" for trying to play football. Magdeburg secured their win with two goals each from Mateusz Zukowski and Falko Michel in front of 3,545 spectators.

a huge compliment

— Petrik SanderPraising the Bahlinger SC team for their playing style despite the pitch.

Bahlinger coach Marco Schneider acknowledged the pitch wasn't perfect, attributing its condition to recent high temperatures, but noted it was "significantly better" than some surfaces. However, Bahlinger captain Hasan Pepic strongly disagreed with Sander's assessment. "I am sure that Mr. Sander has coached teams that have played on even worse pitches. I've been in this business for a long time, and I can say I've played on worse pitches over 100 times," Pepic retorted, adding that the uneven ground did not prevent his team from creating good chances against the favored opponent.

Is now certainly no Wembley lawn, no carpet, but was already significantly better

— Marco SchneiderAcknowledging the pitch condition while downplaying its severity.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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