Neymar points to the poor condition of the pitch after his injury in the Copa do Brasil
Santos captain Neymar experienced a bitter day during the Copa do Brasil quarter-final match against Palmeiras. The Brazilian star was forced to leave the pitch before the end of the first half due to a right thigh injury, an incident that the player directly attributes to the deplorable conditions of the Vila Belmiro stadium pitch.
The match, which ended in a 0-0 draw, sealed Santos’ elimination from the competition, after having fallen 3-0 in the first leg. However, beyond the sporting result, the attention was focused on the severe criticisms that the captain launched regarding the management of the pitch.
I wanted to congratulate the person in charge of the pitch at Vila Belmiro. Yesterday’s was the worst grass, full of holes.
Neymar, Santos captain
Critical factors that affected performance
Neymar explained that the pitch had serious irregularities, aggravated by a de-compaction process carried out just 24 hours before the opening whistle. According to the attacker, this forced the players to make a constant physical overexertion to maintain balance, brake, or accelerate during plays.
- The state of the pitch hindered the technical development of the match.
- Neymar had already expressed his discomfort with the turf during the warm-up.
- The captain left the field visibly affected and in tears.
- The injuries of his teammates Lucas Veríssimo and Barreal were also linked by the player to the field conditions.
With this result, the São Paulo team says goodbye to the tournament, leaving a trail of concern regarding the physical integrity of its players after a night where, as the captain rightly pointed out, they had to compete not only against the rival, but also against a setting that did not guarantee the minimum conditions for the practice of professional soccer.
