When Peter Bosz penned his guest column for the March 22, 2014 matchday programme, he brought the swagger of a legitimate title contender to the Euroborg. His Vitesse side was sitting in third place, desperately chasing league leaders Ajax. But amidst his tactical analysis, Bosz dropped a quote that perfectly tied into the biggest off-pitch drama of Groningen‘s season.
Bosz reflects on Vitesse’s recent form, noting a painful 1-2 defeat in the home match vs PSV that dented their title hopes. He also recalls the trauma of the reverse fixture against Groningen, where his team blew a 2-0 lead in five minutes of madness. But the most fascinating part of his column is hidden under the sub-header “VELD” (Pitch).
“It is a shame that the pitch is not in good condition,” Bosz complains bluntly. “Both teams would rather have a nice grass mat.” For the regular readers of the Groningen matchday programme, this was a hilarious, validating moment. As we documented in previous issues, the club had been fined €20,000 by the KNVB for the state of their winter pitch, and their own players had complained about the heavy mud. Now, the manager of a team famous for its slick, attacking, possession-based football was publicly lamenting that his title-chasing squad would have to play on the notoriously ruined Euroborg turf.
A Look into the Future
The ruined pitch at the Euroborg might have been an eyesore, but it served as a great equalizer. Peter Bosz‘s Vitesse ultimately fell short in the title race that season, unable to keep pace with Ajax. Bosz himself, however, would go on to have a spectacular managerial career, taking his hyper-attacking philosophy to Ajax (reaching a Europa League final), Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, and eventually PSV. Meanwhile, the great pitch debate in Groningen eventually led to massive investments in hybrid grass technology, ensuring that future elite managers visiting the north would have one less excuse for dropping points.