Manchester City are 14 points clear at the top of table and have only lost twice at home this season. But Guardiola is green with envy over the grass he has seen elsewhere.

However, no blame is being pinned on City’s team of Grounds Staff or Head Groundsman, Lee Jackson. This is no surprise given the situation of having no time to replace or carry out major renovations on the pitch. This highlights the fantastic job Lee and all Turfcare professionals do when given the correct time and resources.

“I know the weather conditions here in England are tough, but there are stadiums where the grass is good,” said the Spaniard. “We were in London against Arsenal, at Anfield, at Old Trafford and the grass was better. We were in Budapest in the Champions League and the grass was incredible, red carpet.”

“They’re working a lot, they are trying to find a solution but the grass is not good. I’m not a greenkeeper, I cannot give you a reason why but the reality is not good,” he said.

“We have to find a way from October ’til March, that the grass can be as good as possible. To avoid injuries, for better football, for many reasons.”

Club sources agree the pitch is not up to scratch but no blame is being attached to head groundsman, and lifelong City fan, Lee Jackson.

The surface is the second oldest in the Premier League and City had planned for last summer to be free of concerts so the issue could be assessed properly, but the coronavirus pandemic extended the season into the summer and left room for only minor remedial work.

The issue was compounded by playing the 2020-21 season virtually straight after the previous one and the terrible weather which has blighted Manchester since the end of autumn.

If external ground operators can access the stadium this summer, the work will be done and Guardiola will have a pitch that meets his standards.

Until then, City can only tinker around the edges and have already taken advantage of a break in home games, that might extend to the 10 April game against Leeds, to reseed the pitch.

Source: http://ow.ly/T5oD50DXXOG