Why Toulouse managed to relay their pitch in time while PSG could not | OneFootball

Toulouse have relaid the Stadium pitch in time to host OL at 20:45 on Saturday, while PSG start at Rennes on Sunday because their surface is unplayable.

L'Équipe reports that the hybrid surface at Toulouse suffered in the summer heat and was replaced this week, with work starting immediately after last Saturday’s 1-2 friendly loss to Hamburg.

Machinery stripped out the natural and synthetic mat, which had yellowed or rotted after extreme temperatures, then watering that encouraged disease. Toulouse Métropole, the venue owner, brought forward a full relaying originally planned for summer 2027, costing €600,000 from public funds.

The switch was enabled by quick-lay rolled turf imported from Spain via Toulouse-based supplier Natural Grass, which routinely alerts clients to available surfaces. Combined with rapid regrowth, that planning helped TFC avoid the problems seen in Paris.

At the Parc des Princes a different method is used, seeding natural grass at season’s end that can take several weeks, a timing that has prompted questions in Toulouse. City officials said they were surprised that PSG, despite its resources and a full-time groundsman, had not found solutions, while stressing they did not know the details.

The Violets trained for ten minutes on Friday morning on a playable, lined surface in cooler conditions, with overnight rain aiding the take. Staff said the pitch is ready, though it will still need two or three weeks to be perfect.

Toulouse required only five days to return to normal operating conditions.

Source: L'Équipe

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”