Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino fears Rochdale pitch is unfit for football ahead of FA Cup clash
Mauricio Pochettino fears the pitch that will stage Tottenham’s FA Cup tie at Rochdale is not safe for football – and called on the FA to take a close look at the situation.
The Tottenham boss is due to take his team to Spotland on February 18, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake, but he has requested a meeting with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy on Thursday after viewing pictures of the playing surface.
The pitch, which has been described as the worst in the Football League, was covered in sand to make it playable for the fourth-round replay against Millwall this week, which Rochdale won 1-0.
“If the pitch is like I saw in the picture, I think you cannot play football,” said Pochettino. “It is about providing a safe place for players to play and if the picture is accurate, it would be a big risk.
“Not just because we are Tottenham, because Rochdale cannot play football there either. It’s a massive risk for their players, too. Maybe the FA need to go in and take a very good decision for football.”
Pochettino did not make clear what he wanted the FA to do, but said: “The FA need to assess how the pitch is and then take a decision if it’s good for the competition, the players, the team to play on this type of pitch.
“In that condition, I don’t think it helps football. I don’t know why this has happened with the pitch but it’s true that from the pictures, it’s not a pitch in condition for football.”
Asked if Spurs would be prepared to offer Rochdale financial help to improve the pitch before next Sunday’s game, Pochettino said: “I cannot say anything but I will see the chairman later this afternoon. I will talk to him and see if we can find a solution.”
In Pictures | FA Cup fourth round
It is clear that the images circulating online have troubled Pochettino, as after Wednesday’s win over Newport he was far calmer about playing at Spotland, saying: “I hear it’s not in the best condition but it’s like Newport. We need to learn from Newport and it is the same for them as it is for us.”
