Guardiola says Young Boys pitch against "common sense" as Man City boss fumes
Pep Guardiola has insisted that artificial pitches should not be allowed in the Champions League, as his Manchester City side prepare to face Young Boys on a 4G surface.
City travel to the Swiss side on Wednesday night, with the Stadion Wankdorf playing host to an artificial pitch. Young Boys announced the move to that surface back in 2002 and it has been approved by UEFA for use in European competition.
Manchester United played on it back in 2021, where they fell to an embarrassing defeat, and the Wankforf also hosted three group games in Euro 2008. Despite the lack of complaints after those matches though, Guardiola has called for UEFA to make a U-turn.
"Grass is better, 99.9 percent of the teams who play in high level play on grass, otherwise UEFA and FIFA would decide to play on artificial pitch. It's common sense I would say," the City boss said.
“But it is what it is and if UEFA allow games to be played here it’s because it is in good conditions. It is one of the reason we never train away but this is an exception. Hopefully not for both sides but I don’t know.
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"We are not used to it. Any team that plays here is not used to it. It suits the Swiss league and in the Champions League the teams that come here have to adapt. My friends in Manchester know they ask me every press conference, 'When are you going to win it?'.
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Manchester City trained on the artificial pitch on Tuesday"Now it disappears. It’s nice and we enjoy it for the moment. Travelling all around the world showing the Champions League everywhere but now we try to arrive in the last 16 knowing how difficult this competition is."
City trained at the stadium on Tuesday, in a break from Guardiola's normal training plans. Defender Manuel Akanji already has experience of playing at the Wankdorf, having spent four years playing in the Swiss Super League for Winterthur and Basel earlier in his career.
But the Swiss international has admitted he is no fan of artificial pitches. Akanji conceded though that City would just have to face up to the challenge, as they look to progress to the Last 16.
"It's not the same, we’re not used to playing on artificial surfaces. It is what it is, we can't change it. They won't be scared, will try to play football and be brave. We have to focus on ourselves and get three points," the City star said.
"We want to win everything possible. We're out of the Carabao Cup but we want to fight for everything else and hopefully more trophies at the end of the year. We started with two wins in the Champions League, but we know every team will be prepared against us and could beat us.
"I think we started really well in the season, we didn't win the Community Shield but after that we had a long streak of winning but then the three losses in England. Obviously that wasn't good for us but it’s good to show the reaction."
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