Inter Milan’s president Beppe Marotta expressed serious concerns about the artificial turf at Young Boys’ stadium prior to heir Champions League match. Speaking to Sky and Amazon Prime before the game, Marotta highlighted the risks associated with playing on a synthetic pitch.
Marotta stated, “I’m calm because the players on the field are valuable, but I emphasize that we shouldn’t underestimate an opponent that has historically always caused difficulties for Italian teams. Moreover, playing on artificial turf is not a detail to be overlooked. The rotation doesn’t preclude great respect for our opponents.”
Addressing the synthetic field specifically, he added, “The artificial turf is certainly very treacherous, and we hope no one gets injured. Our players are not used to it. It’s a peculiarity that must be respected, but sooner or later UEFA must intervene. An artificial field can lead to problems and damages.”
The president’s concerns are not unfounded. Italian teams have struggled at Young Boys’ Wankdorf Stadium in Bern in the past. Napoli lost there in the 2014 Europa League, Juventus fell in the 2018 Champions League, and Atalanta managed only a 3-3 draw in 2022.
Inter’s coach Simone Inzaghi also acknowledged the challenge in his pre-match conference, saying, “We should quickly understand how it works; it’s something new for us. On grounds like this, everything changes, it’s useless to say otherwise.”
It’s worth noting that in their first Champions League home game on this artificial turf this season, Young Boys suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat against Aston Villa. The English side now leads the group with maximum points after victories against Bayern Munich and Bologna in the second and third matchdays of the League Phase.
