Wary Reds work out on artificial surface

FCBayernNews · News fetcher Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 1328 votes: 2

19.11.2006

An unusual challenge calls for an unusual solution: on Sunday morning, the squad chose to forego their normal, lush training pitch number one at the Säbener Strasse, electing to work out on the artificial turf normally reserved for the club's youth section.

The background to the decision is Wednesday evening's Champions League trip to Spartak Moscow, where the official playing surface is a similar form of artificial turf. Coach Felix Magath has directed his men to train on the junior pitch on Monday, before Tuesday evening's official final session at the Luschniki stadium, a last opportunity for the Bavarians to acquaint themselves with the unusual surface.

Runners-up spot for Spartak

For their part, Spartak sealed the runners-up spot in the Russian top flight with a 4-3 away victory over FK Rostov on Saturday. The win came with a bitter taste, as there is still one match to play and Spartak lie only three points behind champions and city rivals CSKA. However, Bayern's opponents can no longer dislodge CSKA from top spot, as they have won fewer matches and this is the criterion used to separate teams tied on points in Russia.

Igor Titov and Roman Pavlyuchenko struck a brace apiece for the Muscovites at the weekend, although observers reported a less than watertight defensive performance. Spartak have failed to win in the Champions League so far, and must beat Bayern on Wednesday to preserve their already slim chances of emerging from the group. The nature of the playing surface can hardly be rated a disadvantage for the home team.

Dramatically different

"Obviously it's an advantage for them and a disadvantage for us," Mark van Bommel declared on Sunday, although Magath was more optimistic: "I reckon we'll come to terms with the artificial turf, and I believe three sessions on it should be enough." Technically able players such as Sebastian Deisler, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Willy Sagnol should be able to profit most from the lightning-quick surface.

"We have to play more balls to feet," Magath explained. "Artificial turf is totally different," van Bommel observed, "your movements are totally different. It's another world." The Dutch enforcer made no secret of the fact he would rather be playing on natural turf: "I don't like it. You should play football on grass."

Reduced grip

Nevertheless, van Bommel insisted the artificial turf should not be set up in advance as an excuse. "We've just got to acclimatise as quickly as possible. We mustn't use it as an alibi." The change would be more noticeable for the goalkeeper than the outfield players, goalkeeping coach Bernd Dreher commented: "It's a very different bounce, especially when it's wet. And the keeper get less grip off the surface, so diving is a lot more difficult."