{"id":294100,"date":"2023-10-23T11:25:20","date_gmt":"2023-10-23T11:25:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/?p=294100"},"modified":"2023-10-23T11:25:20","modified_gmt":"2023-10-23T11:25:20","slug":"man-city-change-midweek-preparations-due-to-young-boys-plastic-pitch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/soccer\/man-city-change-midweek-preparations-due-to-young-boys-plastic-pitch\/","title":{"rendered":"Man City change midweek preparations due to Young Boys' plastic pitch"},"content":{"rendered":"
Manchester City have changed their preparation for Wednesday\u2019s Champions League clash with Young Boys because of the Wankdorf Stadium\u2019s plastic pitch.<\/p>\n
Pep Guardiola\u2019s side usually train at the City Football Academy before flying to away matches, rather than taking advantage of the home team\u2019s facilities the night before a game.<\/p>\n
But the artificial surface out in Switzerland has seen Guardiola decide that his players require a session on it when they arrive on Tuesday evening.<\/p>\n
Young Boys beat Manchester United in the group stage two years ago, with the pitch heavily criticised by Luke Shaw, while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer blamed an Aaron Wan-Bissaka red card on the turf.<\/p>\n
\u2018No excuses, we lost the game,\u2019 Shaw said. \u2018But for the Champions League, these pitches, they shouldn\u2019t be possible. It\u2019s dangerous. It\u2019s hard to turn on.\u2019<\/p>\n
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Manchester City have changed their preparation for Wednesday\u2019s Champions League clash with Young Boys – and will now train in Switzerland when they arrive on Tuesday evening<\/p>\n
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The Wankdorf Stadium\u2019s plastic pitch (above) has come under\u00a0much criticism in recent years<\/p>\n
Jose Mourinho also took aim at the pitch after beating the Swiss side while United manager back in 2018. Mourinho had declined to comment on it before the victory but later said: \u2018I don\u2019t understand how you can play the best club competition on an artificial pitch.<\/p>\n
\u2018Some probably fear injuries. I had some players after training yesterday \u2013 light training \u2013 and they were feeling ankles, back pains, sore.<\/p>\n
\u2018It\u2019s not easy, especially not for people who are not adapted to it. Also a little bit of a fear in the duels.\u2019<\/p>\n
City\u2019s altered plans should mean an earlier flight out of Manchester. Inclement weather meant they were delayed reaching Leipzig earlier this month.<\/p>\n
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Luke Shaw heavily criticised the stadium’s pitch two years ago, describing it as ‘dangerous’\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Jose Mourinho also blasted the surface in 2018 during his time as Manchester United manager<\/p>\n
It’s All Kicking Off\u00a0is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football, launching with a preview show today and every week this season.<\/span><\/p>\n It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube , Apple Music and Spotify<\/span><\/p>\n Your browser does not support iframes.<\/p>\n