FCZ boss Canepa is annoyed by the grass field in Letzigrund: “I probably wouldn’t have played on that field.”

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View: Ancillo Canepa, how much does it hurt when you look at the field in Letzigrund?
Ancillo Canepa: I used to play youth and amateur football. But very rarely in a field like this. I probably would have refused.

This cushion is not suitable for professional football, is it?
Normal ball handling and combination football are hardly possible. In addition, the risk of injuries is high due to the many holes.

The Letzigrund turf used to be praised as the best in the Swiss league.
That’s right, we have always been proud of that. The spacious architecture of the Letzigrund Stadium would provide optimal conditions for a well-maintained lawn. But compared to the other stadiums in Switzerland, and I know them all, we have fallen to the bottom when it comes to the quality of the pitch. I spare myself the comparison with stadiums abroad.

Stadium manager Peter Landolt said the weather was to blame; first the summer was too wet, then too dry. What do you think?
Perhaps a communications consultant recommended this statement to him. But seriously: the real reason is that concerts were taking place. If a few thousand people trample the field, even if it is covered, it will ruin any lawn. It is not the first time that we have found such a field after a concert.

It doesn’t help when FC Lugano plays its home games in the Conference League in Letzigrund. As a long-term tenant, have you been informed about this by the city?
If you already know that concerts are planned, then I think it is strange to put unnecessary extra strain on the lawn. No, we were not informed about this in advance.

How much does the stadium cost the FCZ based on a home match?
With all the trimmings, the cost per game amounts to a six-figure sum. This amount increases for European Cup matches. In addition, an additional success factor is linked to the rental.

Will the city give long-term tenants GC and FCZ a discount?
No. Actually, that would be appropriate. We must also compensate for any damage caused by, for example, fans in the stadium. But this mechanism does not work the other way around.

In the past, they have had to move to other stadiums due to scheduling conflicts. FCZ played against Arsenal in St. Gallen. How annoying is that?
On the one hand, very annoying. And on the other hand, it is also relevant for costs and revenues. We have already lost a lot of money because of this.

In other words, does that also mean that you long to build a football stadium?
You can say that out loud. A stadium that we could run ourselves would save us a lot of problems and also greatly increase the income potential.

Can the derby be played?
The competition or the referees must decide this on the spot.

Source : Blick