Prandelli Concerned About Franchi Pitch

Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli is concerned about the state of the Artemio Franchi pitch ahead of the crucial clash against Slavia Prague in the first leg of the Champions League preliminaries on Tuesday night.

Aug 11, 2008 6:27:41 PM

Cesare Prandelli, Fiorentina (Foto Grazia Neri)

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Cesare Prandelli, Fiorentina (Foto Grazia Neri)

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The two teams are set to meet in Florence in what is, perhaps, La Viola’s most important game of the season so far.

Fiorentina are ready for battle but Prandelli has raised a number of concerns ahead of the big match and the coach is moaning about the state of the playing surface..

“I am very concerned about the conditions of the pitch because it will not allow us to play the football we want,” said Prandelli.

“It’s an ugly surface and it’s not suitable for an important game like the one on Tuesday evening.

“Those in charge of the pitch had told us that there would be problems with the turf and I am afraid that players may pick up injuries.”

The pitch at the Artemio Franchi is one of the best in Serie A but a very dry, hot summer, as well as a number of music concerts seem to have taken their toll on the grass.

Salvatore Landolina