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San Siro’s ‘unplayable’ pitch, an additional rival for Inter and AC Milan

Rome, Jan 24 (EFE).- Work is underway Monday to replace the pitch at the San Siro following complaints from Inter Milan and AC Milan that it had become unplayable and posed an injury risk to players.

Inter’s coach Simone Inzaghi was the latest to express his concerns over its bad shape after their late 2-1 victory over Venezia a couple of days ago.

“The San Siro pitch is becoming a problem, it looks unplayable,” he said adding that its poor conditions have forced them to “play differently.”

This, however, is not unfamiliar territory for Inter and AC Milan, who have been forced to adapt to the tough conditions on their shared home turf for years.

The high number of games played at the San Siro — 34 matches this season — and cold temperatures have weathered the pitch, which requires periodical changes.

To put this into context, just 13 games have been played at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu this season, while Manchester City’s Etihad and Paris Saint-Germain’s Parc des Princes have hosted 14 each.

The pitch’s bad conditions expose the players to added risks of injury, which could have been the case for Milan’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic this weekend.

The veteran Swedish striker had to leave the field in the first half of Sunday’s 0-0 draw against Juventus with Achilles tendon issues.

Although it cannot be established with certainty that the injury was caused by grass, there is no doubt that these conditions stress joints and muscles.

Amid protests from both Milan teams, work to replace the grass got underway during the international break and officials hope it will be ready in time for the Milan derby on February 6.

Both clubs recently announced a project to build a new stadium a few meters away from the San Siro.

The ultra-modern Cathedral, designed by the US architect firm Populous, is slated to open in 2027. EFE

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