Arsenal boss Renee Slegers says the “next step for women’s football” is to have better pitches after Gunners legend Ian Wright described Real Madrid’s playing surface as a “disgrace”.
Wright made his feelings known during Arsenal’s 2-0 Women’s Champions League quarter-final first-leg defeat at the Estadio Alfredo di Stefano.
Playing conditions at the home of Real Madrid men’s reserves deteriorated at a rapid rate, making free-flowing football difficult for both sides.
Wright’s criticism on social media came after complaints from Chelsea players and pundits about the pitch for the Women’s League Cup final at Derby County’s Pride Park last Saturday.
Former Netherlands midfielder Slegers admitted the wet and muddy conditions against Real Madrid played their part in her side’s defeat on Tuesday.
The return leg will be played at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium on 26 March.
Asked whether Real Madrid’s main Bernabeu stadium should have been used for the first leg, Slegers added: “It’s not on me to criticise.
“It’s obviously a club decision and I’m sure that Uefa is trying to create the best conditions for the tournament. Of course, the weather is not always in our control.
“But I think we’ve seen a couple of games lately where the pitch conditions haven’t been great and I think that’s the next step for women’s football to take.”
Slegers, who was appointed permanent Arsenal head coach in January after an impressive interim spell, added: “We knew the condition of the pitch. We spoke about it with the players before the game.
“So we had a plan for it, but then it’s always hard because over a season and over time you work on things and you have an identity, the way you want to do things.
“So then reality comes and these conditions come and all of a sudden you need to do things differently so that’s hard.”
