Chelsea’s Conference League semi-final opponents complain about their OWN artificial pitch as club push for the surface to be banned

• Chelsea travel to Stockholm this week for the first leg of their semi-final tie 
• Djurgarden players have complained about the new artificial turf at 3Arena 
• LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Why Jude Bellingham’s move to Real Madrid paid off for Liverpool 

By DANIEL DAVIS

Chelsea may be set for a miserable experience in their Conference League semi-final first leg in Stockholm this week over concerns with an artificial pitch.

Enzo Maresca’s side travel to face Djurgarden on Thursday looking to book their spot in a European final and are heavy favourites to breeze past their opponents.

But it has emerged that the Swedish side’s own players have voiced their frustration with the new turf at 3Arena, believing it affects even the simplest of passes.

Wideman Adam Stahl complained that the ball moved unusually on the pitch and noted that the surface differs significantly from their training ground. He also claimed that straight balls often veer away from the intended target, breaking up moves.

Forward August Priske has also taken aim at the pitch, describing it as challenging.

Djurgarden have scored just one goal in their last four matches, leading to suggestions that the pitch has affected their attacking play, but head coach Jani Honkavaara insisted his side must take responsibility for their shortcomings.

Chelsea will have to play on an artificial pitch when they travel to Djurgarden this week

Players at the Swedish club have complained about the surface at 3Arena (pictured)

Djurgarden head coach Jani Honkavaara admitted the pitch did not behave as expected

He did acknowledge, however, that the turf has had an effect on sessions.

‘It feels different day to day,’ Honkavaara said, via Viasport.

Despite installing the pitch themselves, a motion filed by club members appealed for artificial surfaces to be banned at the elite level of Swedish football. 

They also proposed that Djurgarden work with hybrid grass at 3Arena instead.

The motion was voted through at a meeting despite the board requesting to reject it because it would be ‘impossible’ to make the change, according to Fotbollskanalen.

‘As is well known, Djurgarden Football is a tenant at 3Arena where Djurgarden Football is involved with a large number of other events,’ their response read.

‘The arena is owned by the City of Stockholm and its finances for construction and operation are directly linked to the number of events and visitors. 

‘This in turn makes it impossible in principle to use a surface other than artificial grass, no matter how much we would like to see natural grass or hybrid grass.’

The Blues are heavy favourites to progress but the surface may prove a complication

Djurgarden’s players say the pitch has been affecting even the simplest of passes

The Swedes sealed their spot in the Conference League semi-finals after beating Rapid Vienna

The board also insisted that ‘the issue has already been investigated and pursued by those responsible at Djurgarden Football and that the conclusion is that there are not sufficiently good conditions to change the basis.’

Justifying their stance, they added: ‘For example, it can be mentioned that it would cost Djurgarden at least 15million per year to change the surface.’ They then explained that the ground was not designed for any surface other than artificial grass.

ChelseaEuropa Conference League

:
Chelsea’s Conference League semi-final opponents complain about their OWN artificial pitch as club push for the surface to be banned

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk