FC Barcelona players Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta critized the state of the Stamford Bridge pitch. It is the second time in succession ahead of Barca´s UEFA Champions League clash against Chelsea that the ground is covered with sand. their has been a lot of controversy over the Londoner´s treatment of the pitch prior to the clash between FC Barcelona and Chelsea FC and Barca officials and players claimed that their opponents deliberately letting the surface deteriorate and all football fans who watched the game witnessed in what terrible state the pitch was. On top of this, the field was renewed just 2 weeks after the encounter at Stamford Bridge was played.


Barca´s Xavi is not happy with the "routine maintenance" and told English tabloid "The SUN" that the poor quality of the surface will affect his teams technical and passing skills:

This seems very bad for us because they play direct football and Barcelona have a passing game. This will benefit them but not us. We won at Stamford Bridge last year on the sand but only just. It wasn't easy and it helped they were a man down. We prefer to have a good pitch and when they come to the Nou Camp we will water the surface, so we can play a fast passing game on the floor, the way we like.

Spanish international midfield Andres Iniesta feels that the "special treatment" of the pitch is down to Jose Mourinho but hopes Barca are able to repeat last year´s success. Iniesta believes that Barca can do their "trick" again to pick up a crucial win at Stamford Bridge:

We know what Mourinho is like. If the game turns out the same as last year then it won't bother us if he puts sand on the pitch. He can put whatever he wants on the pitch - it's all the same to us.