Colo Colo Coach Fernando Ortiz Warns About Monumental Stadium Pitch After Concerts

Pitch Inspection and Warning from the Técnico

Ortiz visited the stadium grounds personally to evaluate the state of the grass after the musical events concluded. Speaking about the physical condition of the turf, the manager did not sugarcoat the outlook for the playing surface.

“I just came from checking our pitch and let’s start praying… but they will have the adequate time to put it in the same condition or better than how we played in our last match,” Ortiz stated.

Despite the blunt assessment of the Monumental turf, the conditions in Macul do not present an immediate crisis for the squad. Colo Colo will play both legs of their upcoming Copa Chile Round of 16 tie against Audax Italiano away from their usual home ground.

Scheduling and Estadio Nacional Advantage

The fixture logistics spare the club from playing on the compromised pitch immediately. The opening leg between Audax Italiano and Colo Colo is scheduled for Tuesday, September 22, at 20:30 local time, with the return leg following on Friday, September 25, at the same 20:30 kickoff slot. Both matches take place at the Estadio Nacional in Ñuñoa rather than the Estadio Monumental.

Ortiz expressed clear preference for the alternative venue, praising both its overall infrastructure and the quality of the playing surface compared to his team’s home stadium.

“The Nacional is a pitch that I like a lot, not only because of the infrastructure, but the turf it has, which is different from ours; for our game, it is an ideal pitch,” Ortiz added.

Copa Chile Tie Outlook

Meanwhile, the squad shifts its immediate focus to the two-legged cup series against Audax Italiano at the Estadio Nacional.