Koeman Complains About Synthetic Grass On Cornella Field

Ronald Koeman (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman complained about the condition of the field at the headquarters of the third caste team, Cornella, who will be faced in the last 32 match of the Copa del Rey on Thursday, January 21 local time (Friday WIB).

Barcelona will visit fellow Catalunya team Cornella at the Nou Camp Municipal Stadium, where the surface of the pitch uses synthetic grass and has drawn criticism from Koeman.

"For me, playing on synthetic grass is not a football match," Koeman said as quoted by Antara from the El Pais daily, Thursday.

"I understand that the lower league teams have the advantage of playing at home in this competition and I like that. But it all depends on the field conditions and the stadium lighting," he added.

Cornella arrived in the last 32 by creating a surprise, namely eliminating Atletico Madrid in the previous round.

However, with the condition of the Nou Camp Municipal Stadium field, Koeman indicated that he would reduce the coating players who he said were more accustomed to playing on artificial grass fields.

"The young players and our B team are more used to playing on this kind of pitch, because they do play in grassroots football competitions," he said.

"The senior players are not used to it and if they appear, it will be detrimental to us, because the ball will bounce differently than playing on natural grass. Of course this is not for any reason, we have to prepare well," concluded Koeman.

Koeman and Barcelona have just experienced disappointment after losing in the Spanish Super Cup final after being defeated by Athletic Bilbao last weekend.

Last season, Barcelona were also eliminated by Bilbao in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals.