Ernesto Valverde, Gerard Pique and Sergio Busquets all fumed at the state of Real Valladolid’s pitch on Saturday.
Barca managed to leave Valladolid with a 1-0 win, but the biggest talking point was that of the Jose Zorrilla pitch, which had only been re-laid four days before the match and was seen to come apart in the players’ hands.
“There was a very clear issue with the pitch,” Valverde said after the game.
“I haven’t seen the grass lift like it did for a long time. It’s something that has to make us think, given we want to take the League elsewhere.
“I don’t think it made for a good spectacle. It’s not only about winning but also the fans enjoying themselves. Luckily there were no injuries.”
The defender added: “Before we sell our product abroad, we’d do well to look here first.
“They want to take our players to the US, but the state of the grass today was a disgrace.
“The players risked getting injured. It was very regrettable and I hope action is taken on the matter.”
However, Busquets was responsible for the most scathing criticism, comparing the field to a ‘beach’.
“With the pitch being the way it was, it was very difficult to play on it,” wrapped up the midfielder.
“It’s regrettable that the best League in the world has to be played on a pitch like that. There were areas of it that looked like a beach.
“It’s also incredible that the League didn’t send anyone to review it, just four days after it was re-laid.”
| Suárez & Ter Stegen trying to fix the pitch. pic.twitter.com/ExXzIa5jf1
— Barca Universal (@BarcaUniversal) August 25, 2018
