'Ball bounces like a rabbit' - Luis Enrique on pitches at the Club World Cup

Paris St-Germain manager Luis Enrique has criticised the pitches at the Club World Cup, saying the "ball bounced like a rabbit" during his side's 2-0 win against the Seattle Sounders.

Photo by Justin Setterfield - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

The match was played at Seattle's Lumen Field, home of MLS side the Sounders and NFL team the Seattle Seahawks. For the tournament, the stadium's artificial turf was replaced with a temporary hybrid grass surface.

"What I really care about is the state of the field of play, and I say this on the day we've won.

"The ball bounces almost as if it were jumping around like a rabbit," said the 55-year-old.

Despite losing to Brazilian side Botafogo, PSG topped Group B, but Enrique admitted his team has struggled to adjust to the pitch conditions in the United States.

"Lumen Field is an example — it used to be artificial turf, and now it is natural grass, and they have to water it by hand. They did so at half-time, but the field was dry again in 10 minutes."

"For our game, this is a problem. It's very different from European pitches. The grass is different, and therefore it's not so easy to have the same smoothness to play our style — but we did adapt well, and we're very happy."

Enrique has not been the only participant to criticise the pitches at the Club World Cup, with Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham also commenting on the conditions after his side's 3-1 win against Pachuca.

Photo by Pedro Castillo/Real Madrid via Getty Images

"The pitches aren't great at all. It holds up the ball; the ball barely bounces," said the England midfielder.

"It's tough on the knees as well. Hopefully, there's someone who will look at that going into the World Cup next year."