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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Sophie Downey at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano

Slegers pitches for better conditions as Wright labels Madrid surface ‘disgrace’

Chloe Kelly slides on the playing surface
Chloe Kelly slides on the playing surface which was heavily criticised. Photograph: Susana Vera/Reuters

The Arsenal manager, Renée Slegers, said that improving pitch conditions is “the next step for women’s football” after the state of the playing surface at the Estadio Alfredo di Stéfano drew strong criticism during Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat against Real Madrid in the first leg of their Women’s Champions League quarter-final.

A combination of heavy rain in Madrid and a stadium unsuitable for such an occasion made for a pitch that was almost unplayable.

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