Real Madrid Hits Back at Manchester City Over Turf Comments

In a recent Champions League quarterfinal clash between Real Madrid and Manchester City, comments about the turf of the Bernabeu stadium have sparked a war of words between the two European giants. After a thrilling 3-3 draw in the first leg, City manager Pep Guardiola made sarcastic remarks about the recently-renovated stadium's grass during interviews and press conferences.

Guardiola, while expressing his admiration for the overall stadium, suggested that Real Madrid should "take care of the grass" and "improve the pitch." This sentiment was echoed by midfielder Rodri, who complained about the inconsistent playing surface and said that it affected their style of play.

Surprisingly, Real Madrid expressed their "surprise" at City's complaints, stating that while the pitch is not perfect, it is still of high quality. An anonymous source from the club told AS that the pitch at the Bernabeu is an "8 out of 10" and that they wish every pitch had such quality turf. They also highlighted that UEFA's official reports made no mention of any issues with the pitch.

Real Madrid further defended themselves by revealing that the pitch had not been touched by professional players since March 31, when they defeated Athletic Club. They assured that necessary work would be done to ensure the pitch is in a "formidable state" for the upcoming Clasico against Barcelona on April 21.

The controversy surrounding the turf adds an extra layer of intrigue to the second leg of the Champions League clash between Real Madrid and Manchester City. As these two titans prepare to battle it out in Manchester next week, the topic of the playing surface will likely remain a talking point.

It remains to be seen how Real Madrid will respond on the field and if any changes will be made to address the concerns raised by City. As fans eagerly anticipate the outcome of this high-stakes match, all eyes will be on the state of the grass at the Etihad Stadium and the subsequent reactions from both teams.