😤 Abel and Ceni trade barbs over the Fonte Nova pitch 🎥 | OneFootball

The triumph of Bahia over Palmeiras last Sunday (28) resulted in press conferences with criticism from both sides.

The focus was on the condition of the pitch at the Casa de Apostas Arena Fonte Nova.

During the match, valid for the 25th round of the Brasileirão, Anderson Barros, the football director of Verdão, assured that the club would file a formal complaint with the CBF.

Palmeiras believes that the possible injuries of Lucas Evangelista and Piquerez - who were substituted in the first half - were related to the pitch conditions.

In his press conference, coach Abel Ferreira did not hold back:

"It's difficult, you are not prepared for this kind of situation, you are not prepared to play on a field with a pitch... We are talking about high-level football, professional football, this should be inadmissible. Injuries arise due to the pitch conditions because the foot gets stuck, unfortunately. If you go out there, you can see that the pitch is painted, I can't understand, but there you go."

Ceni, on the other hand, believes that the pitch "facilitated" the playing style of the São Paulo team. Even though Bahia's goal came precisely from a direct play.

"I think the color was very ugly. For Palmeiras, a bad pitch is better because they only play direct, almost. Their playing characteristic is Weverton-Flaco-Vitor Roque. It harms us more because we play from the back on the ground. We would also like the pitch to be in better condition, but I think it hindered us more. About the injury, I'm sorry, but for those who play on synthetic turf to complain about injuries on natural grass, it looks bad. And I'll stop here, let's value our victory and not hide the opponent's defeat on a field that offered minimal conditions. Is it ideal? I agree. But blaming muscle injuries on the pitch is too much."

Check out the highlights of both statements below:

Check out the best moments of the duel below and give your opinion on the pitch:

Person responsible for the pitch defends themselves

Photo: Cesar Greco/Palmeiras

Greenleaf, the company responsible for the maintenance of the Fonte Nova pitch, made a statement.

"The most recent maintenance intervention carried out on the pitch at Arena Fonte Nova resulted in a temporary impact on its aesthetic coloration. We emphasize that all the main technical indicators of the pitch remain in full compliance with the established standards. Additionally, daily measurements were conducted to ensure the maintenance of these parameters. Specifically, the parameters of traction, compaction, resistance, and moisture level are within ideal specifications, ensuring the structural and functional integrity of the surface for use. The complete recovery of the expected visual tone will occur soon."

'Complicated ethical issue', says Barros

In a statement to ge this Monday, Anderson Barros spoke about Ceni's statements.

"Regarding the criticism from Bahia's coach about the way Palmeiras supposedly plays, it's not worth wasting time. The titles the club has won under Abel's coaching staff demonstrate the excellence of the work developed. Mr. Rogério Ceni's statement enters a complicated ethical issue, and I think he should reconsider it".

Verdão loses 'leadership' and Bahia reacts 📊

Palmeiras held the position of best visitor until the setback in Salvador.

They have seven victories, two draws, and now two defeats. With a goal difference of five.

But they saw Flamengo achieve the same performance with a goal difference of nine after the triumph over Corinthians in Itaquera.

Meanwhile, Bahia ended a bad streak in the Brasileirão. They had three defeats and one draw.

Check the updated standings here.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.