Ralf Rangnick, Austria coach, criticises pitch conditions after 1-1 draw in Pristina
Ralf Rangnick, the Austrian coach, said clear words after the Nations League match against Kosovo in Pristina: After a 1‑1 draw he criticised the miserable pitch conditions at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium and called the turf a complete disaster. He stressed that such a pitch is rarely seen in his forty years of professional football.
Criticism of the turf at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium
Rangnick said at the press conference: “Anyone who says the pitch wasn’t that bad has no idea about football.” He described the turf as “a complete disaster” and recalled that even during the final training the day before the conditions had been surprisingly poor.
“I have rarely seen such an unmaintained pitch in my 40 years of professional football,” he continued, demanding that a Nations League match should be provided with a significantly better surface. His words underscored the frustration of the entire Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) team.
Rangnick made it clear, however, that the criticism was not directed at the host nation. “I think Kosovo deserves a better pitch than the one we found here,” he said, praising the hospitality of the people during the stay. He emphasized that his players’ performance had not suffered because of the poor pitch conditions.
Further voices and praise for Kosovo
The former Leipzig midfielder Xaver Schlager agreed with the coach and criticised: “Direct play was impossible, every ball bounced, football had little to do with it.” His statement highlighted how strongly the playing surface affected the quality of the game.
At the same time Rangnick stressed that Kosovo is an emerging nation and, in his view, deserves a better pitch. He highlighted that the team, despite the poor conditions, had shown a solid performance.
The statements of the Austrian coach shed light on the need for uniform pitch standards in the Nations League to ensure fair competition conditions for all participating countries. The discussion could lead to stricter inspections at future venues.