Italy boss Gattuso shrugs off Bosnia pitch concerns: “It’s for weaklings” | OneFootball

Italy manager Rino Gattuso was asked about concerns regarding the condition of the pitch ahead of the World Cup playoff final against Bosnia.

The Azzurri were forced to train in Florence on Monday, as the stadium for the tie was impacted by the snow and couldn’t be used for training.

While this can impact the tie tomorrow, Gattuso refused to get drawn into the question and suggested that both teams will face the same challenge. Italy aren’t the only one who will be playing on a difficult pitch.

The Azzurri boss said – via TMW: “We shouldn’t think about that. It’s an excuse. If the pitch is bad, it’s bad for both of us; the match has to be played. If we think about the pitch, the stands, no, that’s for weaklings.”

Gattuso revealed that the pitch is fine to play in. He also spoke of his experiences with bad pitches during his time at Hadjuk.

“l’ve seen the pitch, and it’s fine. I spent a year nearby, so I know what it’s like. The bad pitches were the ones I played on with Hajduk. Honestly, even if it had been bad, there’s little we can do. We have to think about what kind of team they are.”

Beyond the condition of the pitch, the Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica will also have a restricted capacity. Only 9k fans will be allowed to attend it as the stadium was handed a ban after tensions had erupted between spectators during a game involving Bosnia and Romania.

Kaustubh Pandey –  GIFN