Bahia v Flamengo: Fonte Nova on pitch, Filipe Luís and Saúl react | OneFootball

The Fonte Nova Pitch Has Become the Subject of Debate in Recent Weeks

Palmeiras and Bahia coaches, Abel Braga and Rogério Ceni, ‘traded barbs’ last week over the condition of the Fonte Nova pitch. This time, Flamengo will be playing at the stadium on Sunday (05), for the Brasileirão. The arena’s management has assured that the pitch will be in good condition.

— The pitch will be suitable for the Flamengo match, especially respecting all technical parameters, such as traction, humidity, mowing height, and compaction. We have a calendar, a planned schedule of activities for the pitch, respecting the window between games. At the moment, the pitch does not have its usual green color. But what we can assure is that, for the pitch, we do not assess or measure based on aesthetics. We measure by technical parameters, which are traction, humidity, compaction, and pitch resistance — said Milena Andrade, operations manager at Arena Fonte Nova.

— The quality of the pitch, technically, remains unchanged. All parameters are being respected. Visually, we don’t have the usual green, but soon we will have it again. Sports dye is appropriate and recommended for use on sports pitches if necessary. In fact, in national and international games, dye is used. If needed, we will use it. Since it is a living organism, we need time. In October, we will have a favorable window. During that period, we will be able to carry out intensive maintenance work to restore and speed up the return of the green color — she concluded.

WHAT DOES FLAMENGO THINK ABOUT THE FONTE NOVA PITCH?

After the 0-0 draw between Flamengo and Cruzeiro, Filipe Luís and Saúl were asked about the condition of the Arena Fonte Nova pitch. Both played down the situation, with the coach stating that the irregularity would affect both teams. The Spaniard, meanwhile, insists the team must adapt quickly.

— I don’t know if, in the time they had since the last game until now, it will improve a bit, I don’t know, but as he himself said in the press conference, it also harms Bahia, it harms both teams. But we are used to playing on various types of pitches, on synthetic grass, and we have played many different games, with different balls, so the players are adapted and prepared to face Bahia even with a poor pitch and try to win — said Filipe Luís.

“Obviously, if it’s really terrible, it will require some adaptations in the way we play, but I believe the players will adapt quickly,” the coach concluded, with the sentiment echoed by the Spanish midfielder Saúl.

— No (the state of the pitch does not worry us). We only think about ourselves. It’s something we can’t control and we can’t focus on it. We have to adapt to the pitch, to the weather, and to everything that comes our way, in the best way possible. If we can’t play our style, we’ll play another style to win. That’s what we have to do — the midfielder pointed out.

WHEN WILL BAHIA VS FLAMENGO TAKE PLACE?

In the fight to stay at the top of the Brasileirão, Flamengo faces Bahia this Sunday (05), starting at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), at Arena Fonte Nova. Thus, Coluna do Fla will cover the match live, straight from Salvador, with interviews after the game.

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