GIOVANNI VAN BRONCKHORST has sharply criticized the state of the pitch as his Feyenoord team prepares to clash with Real Betis.

The Dutch powerhouse has traveled to Spain aiming to secure consecutive Champions League victories after their slim win over Como last week.

However, Van Bronckhorst, 51, expressed his dissatisfaction with the playing surface at the 60,000-capacity Estadio de La Cartuja ahead of the contest on Wednesday.

In his pre-match press conference, the former Rangers manager criticized the pitch quality.

Van Bronckhorst, who served on Arne Slot’s staff at Liverpool, stated: “The pitch is not in optimal condition. We’ve recently played on excellent surfaces, but this one is different.

“It’s not what you anticipate at Champions League level. We’re surprised it’s not up to standard.”

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Feyenoord faced a harsh defeat from Barcelona during their last visit to Spain last month, suffering a 5-1 loss in their opening encounter of the European campaign.

Yet Van Bronckhorst’s squad travels to Betis with renewed confidence after their victory over Cesc Fabregas’ Como.

Feyenoord currently sits three points clear at the top of the Eredivisie following an impressive streak of performances.

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Van Bronckhorst enjoyed a two-year tenure with Arsenal during his illustrious playing career.

In total, the Dutchman made 64 appearances for the Gunners, scoring two goals and providing nine assists along the way.

Despite struggling with a long-term knee injury while in North London, Van Bronckhorst secured titles including the Premier League, Community Shield, and the FA Cup twice.

He also played for Feyenoord, Rangers, and Barcelona, where he was on the pitch for Lionel Messi’s debut, before retiring in 2010.

Additionally, Van Bronckhorst was part of the Netherlands squad that fell to Spain in the 2010 World Cup final.

Feyenoord is scheduled to face Inter Milan, Porto, Viking, Galatasaray, and RB Leipzig following their visit to Betis.