Real Madrid Pitch vs Arsenal: Beth Mead describes the conditions for the quarterfinals of the Champions League as not good enough

Beth Mead says that the realm of Real Madrid is the Champions League quarterfinal victory over Arsenal’s “not good enough” for women’s football – and shows how much the game still has to go.

Real Madrid beat Arsenal 2-0 on Tuesday quarterfinals of the Champions League champion, but the fall out of the match focused on poor playing conditions.

Gunners chief Renee Slegers said the terrain played a role in defeat, while the real midfielder Melanie Leupolz was injured with what looked like a serious knee injury after slipping off the ball.

Alfredo di Stefano’s stadium has been criticized by Arsenal legend Ian Wright, who has been shaving it, while the football federation (PFA) said he threatened the safety of players.

“It’s been a long time since I had to play on the field that felt like that in my career,” Mead said on Thursday Sky Sports News from Arsenal’s club store.

“It’s disappointing for the quarterfinals of the Champions League. It is the terrain in which we and Real Madrid had to play, which is not just a situation on the field but for the safety of the players. And it was not ideal. Melanie Leupolz lowered the injured from the ball because she slipped on the field.”

Just a few days earlier, there was a criticism of Pind Park Pitch Derby, which hosted Chelsea Continental Cup over Manchester City last weekend.

“It’s the same for the Conti Cup finals – it’s not good enough for what we want to show in a women’s game,” Mead added. “I hope that was remedied soon.

“The woman’s game is in such a good place, but in the end we have a long way. These are the obstacles we have to face.

“When you look at the quarterfinals of the Champions League in the men’s game, you wouldn’t see those conditions. So why would you see them in a women’s game when they do the same thing?”

Arsenal will welcome Real next week for the second leg at the Emirates Stadium, the same place where the male team plays all his home games.

“They faced the requirements of the terrain better than what we did at the time,” Mead said. “This is obviously a disappointment on our part, but we have the other leg, so we have to perform here on the Emirates.

“We are convinced as a team, we know that we are good enough. Now we have to be ruthless in front of the goal. This is what we have to do in the leg, now we are behind two goals. We have to score goals to get back to the game.”

How did football react to the Real Madrid field

Going to Instagram live in the first half of the Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday, former Arsenal Men striker Ian Wright said: “This is worse than Derby’s tone the other day.

“This is the ******* shame on which these girls have to play.”

And on Wednesday night, the Association of Professional Football players (PFA) has joined the Corners of the Conditions.

Said a spokesman Sky Sports News: “Such cannons not only affect the quality of the game, but are exposed to players’ safety.

“On several occasions in the last few days, in important relationships, our members have been asked to play in sub -residential conditions. World class players deserve world class standards and they can expect better.”

Real Madrid did not use its Santiago Bernabeu Chief Stadium to play against Arsenal

Asked about the call not to use the stadium, Arsenal Boss Slegers said, “It’s not up to me to criticize. This is obviously a club decision and I’m sure Uefa is trying to create the best conditions for the tournament.

“Of course the weather is not in control, but I think we have seen a few games in recent times where the conditions on the field have not been great and I think this is the next step that women will take.

“We talked about it with players before the game. We knew the situation on the field. So, we had a plan for it, but then it is always difficult, because during the season you work on things over time, and you have an identity, the way you want to do things.

“So, reality comes and these conditions come and suddenly you need to do things differently, so it’s difficult. But the players have tried, so they have all the credit for trying and their work rate.

“But again, I think we are all convinced that we can do something against them at the Emirates at home because it is only half -time.”

Sky Sports News Reporter Anton Toloui posted on X after the match to criticize the decision to release the game at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium.

“This terrain is barely enough for the Sunday league, regardless of the quarterfinals of the Champions League,” he wrote.

“Thinking it’s okay, he sends the following message: We don’t care about players’ safety, we don’t care about the quality of the game … In fact, we just don’t care.”