Inter and AC Milan are taking the opportunity to maintain the pitch at the San Siro, and will have new grass planted ahead of a busy January schedule.
This according to today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, who report that the Serie A agronomist Giovanni Castelli will import grass from the US to improve the hardiness of the turf at the stadium.
Given that both the Nerazzurri and the Rossoneri play their home fixtures at the San Siro, the stadium rarely goes long without use and this can lead to wear on the grass.
In January, Inter will face Juventus in the Supercoppa Italiana on the 12th before Milan take on Genoa in the Coppa Italia the next day also at the San Siro.
On January 22 Inter will host Venezia at the stadium, before Milan host Juventus on the 23rd, another 24-hour period with two matches.
In this case, both teams having to play home games to make up for having both played away while the stadium was in use for the UEFA Nations League.
Compounding these issues is the fact that this buildup of fixtures will occur during a period where the weather conditions are the harshest for the pitch.
Heated coils and photsynthetic lights are used during the winter months to keep the grass hardy through the cold, but even so this period should pose a test of how much the turf can withstand.
Agrononomist Castelli intends to important a variety of grass called “poa trivialis” from the US which can quickly take root even during cold and harsh condition, and this will ensure that coverage of the pitch is even and healthy.
