'It's more of a golf green' – Kovac fumes at Club World Cup conditions
Borussia Dortmund were knocked out of the Club World Cup by Real Madrid, but Niko Kovac believed the pitch at MetLife Stadium did not help.
Niko Kovac quipped the MetLife Stadium was better suited for a round of golf than a match at the Club World Cup after Borussia Dortmund's defeat to Real Madrid.
Kovac watched on as his team came close to forcing extra time after a frenetic ending to the contest, losing 3-2 following three goals and a red card for Dean Huijsen in second-half stoppage time.
The result saw Madrid extend their unbeaten run in the competition to 20 matches (W17 D3), though Kovac believed the surface played a major part in his side's loss.
Dortmund started their campaign with a goalless draw with Fluminense at the same venue, before fixtures at TQL Stadium and Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
"It's more of a golf green, so you can putt here," Kovac said of the venue, which will host next year's World Cup final. "It's very short.
"But this is not the grass we are used to playing on in the Bundesliga and also in the other two stadiums.
"As you saw, the watering wasn't good enough, I would say, because you don't have the devices for that. When it's too dry, it's unbelievable. It's sticking."
Kovac is also one of many to criticise the playing conditions in the United States, with soaring temperatures across the nation making it difficult for those on the pitch.
Against Madrid, temperatures reached 30 degrees in New Jersey, with similar weather expected at next year's World Cup.
The tournament, which is also being hosted by Mexico and Canada, will feature 11 venues across the USA.
Now out of the Club World Cup, Kovac also suggested kick-off times could be selected more sensibly.
"We played two times in Cincinnati. The first time it was 12 o'clock. The second time it was 3pm and on the pitch, we had temperatures of around about 45 degrees celsius," Kovac added.
"When the temperature is 45 degrees, this is not amazing. This is very hard for someone, and the players must play these games.
"Today, we had 35 degrees. It's also not much better, to be honest. But, okay, this a tournament we need to play.
"And I would suggest that the kick-off times should be a little later. So the intensity is also much higher.
"And as a supporter, as a spectator, you would like to see intensive, aggressive, up-and-down football. So when it's too hot, then it's difficult to play this kind of football."
