Ian Wright slams pitch as Arsenal beaten by Real Madrid in Women's Champions League: 'F****** disgrace'

Yahoo

19-03-2025

Ian Wright slammed the condition of the pitch as Arsenal were beaten by Real Madrid in the Women's Champions League.
The Gunners fell to a 2-0 defeat in the first leg of their quarter-final tie, with Linda Caicedo opening the scoring in Madrid and Athenea del Castillo doubling the lead with a strike from distance in the final ten minutes of the match.
It leaves Arsenal requiring a big comeback at the Emirates Stadium next week if they are to avoid a last-eight exit in Europe.
They can, at least, be confident of a far better playing surface in north London, with both sets of players having to endure an awful pitch in Madrid.
It was muddy and heavy from the start and only deteriorated further as the rain fell throughout the match, and conditions were perhaps to blame for Leah Williamson failing to intercept a pass played forward by Caroline Weir, allowing Caicedo in for the opening goal.
Free-flowing football was almost impossible on that pitch and Wright, watching at home, took to Instagram to post a video taking aim at the state of the surface.
He said: 'Watching the Champions League quarter-final. Real Madrid's pitch - this is worse than Derby's pitch the other day in the Conti Cup final.
'This is a f****** disgrace the pitches these girls have to play on.'
As Wright referenced, there was criticism for the surface during the Women's League Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester City at Pride Park.
Sonia Bompastor won her first trophy as Chelsea boss, but made it clear that she viewed the pitch as unacceptable.
"It is a shame to have this pitch for a final, especially when you expect in England to have the best groundsmen and pitches in the world," Bompastor said.
"I'm not sure if it was a men's final game it would be the same. We just need to make sure we have the best facilities and grass to play the games."