Cybereagles

SIZE MATTERS Tottenham’s BID to reduce size of Wembley playing surface REJECTED by the Premier League
Spurs struggled playing at the national stadium last season, winning only one in five games there in European games

TOTTENHAM have been dealt a blow before the new season has even kicked off after the Premier League blocked plans to re-size Wembley.

Spurs will play home matches at the 90,000-capacity national stadium before moving to a new 61,500-seat home ground, which will be ready for the 2018-19 campaign. Spurs notoriously struggled when playing at Wembley last season, winning just once in five there when playing in European competition.

Believing it was because the players and Mauricio Pochettino were used to playing at smaller dimensions like White Hart Lane, Spurs chiefs looked into altering the size.

White Hart Lane was the second smallest sized pitch in the Premier League at 100m by 67m.

The Times reported last month that Tottenham were hoping to reduce the pitch size at Wembley to suit their high-pressing game but were told in a meeting of 20 Premier League chairmen that such a change would not be permitted.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side will need to adapt to a 105 metres by 69 metres playing area at Wembley, the largest in the English top-flight football next season.

Spurs have in fact been lucky to have been able to play at a smaller pitch for so long.

Two years ago the Premier League instructed all clubs that the pitch size should be 100m by 68m.

Clubs at older grounds where it was near-impossible to change the dimensions were let off, this included Spurs and Chelsea.

Two years ago the Premier League instructed all clubs that the pitch size should be 100m by 68m.