Pellegrini shocked at state of pitch

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has hit out at the state of the pitch for his side’s Champions League clash against CSKA Moscow.

Pellegrini claims it is “unbelievable” Uefa is allowing the Group D match to go ahead on such a surface at the Arena Khimki. The Chilean even thinks the match should be called off if the weather takes a turn for the worse and it rains.

The pitch has been a cause of concern for a number of weeks with recent fixtures having to be moved away from the venue.

CSKA have not played there since August and took their last Champions League home game against Viktoria Plzen 400 miles away to St Petersburg.

Pellegrini said: “I think it is unbelievable that the most important competition of the world is allowed to play in this pitch. We must pray tomorrow. If it is raining I think it will be impossible to play.”

When asked if he meant the game should be postponed in such circumstances, Pellegrini said: “I think so. Really, I couldn’t believe when I saw the pitch — not only for the two teams, but the people, this is the most important competition of the world. I think it deserves a better pitch.”

The Arena Khimki pitch failed to cope in the early part of the season with persistent and heavy rain and the high number of games played by CSKA, co-inhabitants Dynamo Moscow and Russia U21s.

CSKA have not played there since August 30 and there has been no game at the ground at all for a month.

Uefa passed the pitch fit after some repair work was undertaken a fortnight ago. The surface now has grass but it is thin and it appears very sandy and uneven.

City sampled it as they exercised their right to train on the pitch on the eve of the match.

Pellegrini said: “I think tomorrow, if it is not raining, it is not a risk for injury. It is a very good ground pitch, not a good grass pitch.

“I think the people from Uefa that viewed the pitch mustn’t give the authorisation to play here.”

Pellegrini’s opposite number Leonid Slutsky is in agreement that the pitch is not good enough.

The CSKA boss, whose side have lost five of their last seven games in all competitions, said: “I suppose the quality of the pitch is, absolutely, equal to the quality of our latest results.”

In previous years such a fixture could have been played at the Luzhniki Stadium but Russia’s biggest venue is now being rebuilt ahead of the 2018 World Cup.

City midfielder Yaya Toure tried to make light of the situation.

The Ivorian said: “For us, you have to play on pitches with problems. I don’t have any problem with that.

“In Africa we have worse pitches. Most of all we have to do our best to try to win this game tomorrow.”

The game is a vital one for City as their hopes of progress could depend on their fortunes against the Russian champions.

With Bayern Munich having taken control of the group, City are probably now in a battle with CSKA for second place.

Pellegrini said: “It is not the last match of the group... but the team that wins tomorrow will have more chance [to go through] but both teams will still have to play three games more.”