Rangers expert slams Hampden after what he saw in person as SFA take action
Alan Hutton was disappointed by the conditions of the Hampden pitch when Rangers faced Aberdeen at the weekend.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Gers defender insisted the poor conditions had a negative impact on both sets of players.
As relayed by the BBC (16 January), the SFA and the SPFL have confirmed that the playing surface at the national stadium is being assessed with a view of “enhanced pitch maintenance provision”.
Hampden hosted consecutive cup semi-finals on 14 and 15 January during a spell of heavy rain in Scotland.
Rangers manager Michael Beale said that it was a “difficult pitch” after his side narrowly defeated Aberdeen in extra-time.
Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou said he was “disappointed in the pitch” despite his side’s 2-0 victory over Kilmarnock.
Hutton was watching on for his former club and was also disappointed in the conditions.
“I thought it was poor,” he told Football Insider.
“The weather was really bad and there was a quick turnaround so it is going to cut up slightly and the weather does not help.
“Of course it affects both sides. You could tell towards the end of the 90 minutes that players were starting to get tired, they were cramping up.
“Of course it affects the play and how you want to play. It was not really a surface that you want to be stroking the ball about.
“Obviously the groundsmen have got a lot to do between now and 26 February when the final is because it was not up the standard of what you would expect Hampden to be.“
In other news, according to sources, Rangers agree Todd Cantwell fee and medical lined up.