Napoli manager Walter Mazzarri has become fed up with the condition of the pitch at the Stadio San Paolo after his side’s 3-0 defeat to Viktoria Plzen Thursday night, calling it a “potato field.”
“Enough is enough, it is like a potato field,” Mazzari said. “We failed to get past this round, and I said it even when we won and I say it again: something must be done about the pitch.”
Napoli rested several starters in the defeat, including captain Paolo Cannavaro and midfielder Marik Hamsik, but even with Edinson Cavani playing all 90 minutes the Neapolitans were unable to find the back of the net.
Mazzari also complained about the atmosphere inside the stadium as only 15,000 attended the round of 32 match.
“The stadium was half-empty, there was silence. It felt like a friendly with such a sleep-inducing atmosphere.”
Napoli will play the second leg of the tie in Plzen on February 21.
