Schlager slams pitch conditions after Kosovo match

After the 1-1 draw in Kosovo in the UEFA Nations League, Austrian FA team player Xaver Schlager criticised the pitch conditions in Pristina. The Nottingham legionnaire complained that the match was “at the limit” and that “football had little to do with it”, as he explained in an ORF interview. He added that the conditions severely affected the game.

Criticism of the Pitch and Playing Conditions

“The match was at the limit,” said Schlager. “Playing directly was not possible at all, every ball bounced away.” With this he makes clear that the pitch was barely usable.

He added: “Football had little to do with it. It was simply about kicking the ball forward.” The statement underscores that the game was almost just a forward‑ball‑pushing.

Schlager lamented: “I feel sorry for everyone who had to watch this today. That was nothing.” With this he expressed his regret about the quality of the performance.

“It was the fourth game in two weeks and then you have a pitch where you can’t play,” he continued. “Energy‑saving play and letting the ball run is not possible. I could just stay at home and do something sensible.”

The day before, Austrian FA head coach Ralf Rangnick had sharply criticised the field at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium. He described the turf as “at best a meadow, more like a field.”

Both voices show that both players and the coach consider the conditions unacceptable. For the Austrian national team, the essential thing remains having matches, while the quality of the pitch is considered secondary.