Platini plays down pitch fear

Uefa supremo backs final pitch

Last updated: 20th May 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Platini plays down pitch fear
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL
Manchester United v Chelsea
6pm, Wednesday
Sky Sports 1 & HD1
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Uefa president Michel Platini has played down concerns over the state of the Luzhniki Stadium pitch ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Champions League final.

English groundsman Matt Frost, who oversaw the laying of a new natural grass surface at the stadium, raised his fears over the pitch for the game between Chelsea and Manchester United.

The old synthetic pitch was ripped up after England's Euro 2008 qualifier against Russia in October and a new grass one laid in preparation for the final.

However, experts decided it was too bumpy and another pitch was laid at a cost of £160,000 - importing grass from Slovakia.

United and Chelsea are set to train on the pitch on Tuesday and Platini says the pitch will hold up for Wednesday's showpiece.

Wait

"I think we should wait until the players have trained on it and the coaches have seen it first," noted Platini.

"They are the ones who will decide on the state of the pitch. But I have not heard of any problems so far."

Uefa general secretary David Taylor added: "Uefa officials have seen the pitch and have reported that it is perfectly playable with no problems raised.

"The only problem is that the colour may not be ideal, but the pitch is playable."