- FC Köln manager René Wagner has defended the condition of his side's pitch after it was criticised by Bayer Leverkusen coach Kasper Hjulmand following the visitors' 2-1 Bundesliga victory on Sunday. The match, decided by two Patrick Schick goals, saw Leverkusen move into the top five while ending Köln's five-game unbeaten run.
After the final whistle, Hjulmand suggested the dry pitch at the RheinEnergieStadion contributed to his team's second-half performance, during which they conceded a goal to Luca Waldschmidt and appeared to lose energy. "It is a pitch without water and that also has something to do with this second half performance," the Leverkusen coach said, according to post-match reports.
Wagner responded directly to the criticism in his own press conference, firmly rejecting the claim that the pitch had been deliberately left dry to hinder the opposition. "Can I say something about the pitch? If you say the pitch wasn't wet enough (too dry) and this is the case then we would apologise," Wagner stated. He added, "But this (the pitch being dry) isn't the case. I want to make this clear that this wasn't the case. We didn't do this (on purpose), this is not something that is fair to do."
The controversy overshadowed a significant result for both clubs. For Leverkusen, the three points were crucial in their pursuit of European qualification, temporarily lifting them to fifth place ahead of Hoffenheim's later fixture. The victory was secured by striker Patrick Schick, who scored in each half to take his Bundesliga tally for the season to 24 goals, reinforcing his status as one of the league's most potent forwards.
For Köln, the defeat was a missed opportunity to all but secure their Bundesliga status for another season. Despite a spirited performance where they matched the Champions League contenders for long periods and scored through Waldschmidt, they were unable to find an equaliser. The loss leaves them still needing points to mathematically guarantee safety, adding pressure to their final two matches.
The post-match exchange highlights the heightened tensions at this stage of the season, where every point carries significant weight for both European aspirations and relegation battles. While the pitch debate will soon fade, the ramifications of the result will be felt by both clubs as they approach the final weeks of the campaign.
