Rossi hits out at Maracanã pitch after Flamengo 1-1 draw with Independiente Del Valle | OneFootball

Flamengo drew 1-1 with Independiente Del Valle to seal a place in the 2026 Conmebol Libertadores semi-finals, but the Maracanã pitch drew heavy criticism from their players.

"There is no need to talk about the pitch, everyone can see it. With the way we play, it is unbelievable to have a pitch like this. Both penalty areas are in a terrible state. If you look, there are bumps everywhere. There will still be an NFL game during the international break. After that game I hope the pitch is better," said goalkeeper Rossi in an interview with ESPN.

The condition of the Maracanã surface has been a constant source of complaints from teams using the stadium. Head coach Leonardo Jardim made the same point after the 3-0 win over Botafogo in the Brasileiro.

Arrascaeta, who scored the equaliser, also argued the surface hampers their preferred style, saying ball control is getting harder and that a solution is needed if they want to be champions.

Maracanã CEO Fred Nantes held a press conference last week to outline why the pitch has deteriorated and the plan to improve it in the coming months, following criticism from Flamengo and Fluminense players and staff. The poor state was attributed to an unusual volume of rain, higher-than-average temperatures for the time of year and a heavy match schedule, with many fixtures played on wet days.

Source: Globo.com

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