CHELSEA and Portsmouth have predicted another Wembley pitch disaster that will test the nerves of England manager Fabio Capello during today’s FA Cup final.
England World Cup stars John Terry, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard and Joe Cole are set to figure for Chelsea, and Fabio Capellowill be hoping the poor state of the surface does not result in any serious injuries.
The Wembley pitch was branded a “disgrace” after the semi-finals, which prompted an FA inquiry and the decision to relay the turf for the 11th time since the stadium was built. FA chairman Lord Triesman promised Wembley would never again suffer from a poor playing surface, but looks set to be embarrassed again.
For the first time, Chelsea and Pompey were allowed to train on the pitch ahead of the final but reports were that, despite recent work, the pitch was still very slippery yesterday and the surface was uneven and patchy.
There are suggestions the pitch may not be watered ahead of kick-off in a bid to stop players losing their footing, but there are fears it could increase the threat of uneven bounces.
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