Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has admitted his disappointment at the continued delays in opening the club’s new stadium as it faces at least two more months of playing at Wembley.
Tottenham confirmed last month that its new 62,000-seat stadium, which is being built on the site of the old White Hart Lane ground, will not be ready until 2019. The stadium had initially been due to open in September for Tottenham’s home game against Liverpool, but the club is now set to play all remaining home games in 2018 at Wembley.
Last Monday, the state of Wembley’s pitch came in for criticism during Tottenham’s 1-0 defeat against Manchester City, with the stadium having hosted an NFL American football game just 24 hours before.
Pochettino, who was speaking ahead of Tottenham’s UEFA Champions League match against PSV Eindhoven at Wembley later today (Tuesday), said, according to the Daily Telegraph newspaper: “We are all disappointed we are not playing Champions League in the new stadium.
“It was not in our hands to deliver it. It was complicated because of many things we could not manage. When you build a house or an extension it is always difficult to say when it will be finished. We had problems and it has been delayed, delayed, delayed.
“We feel sorry and painful for our fans, but for us too. Every day that goes on it is more expensive for the club, but the person who is most worried and feels most sorry for not delivering on time is the chairman (Daniel Levy). It is very painful for him.
“All we can do is help by winning games. If we can win against PSV and have the possibility of going to the next stage then maybe we can play in March and in the Champions League in London (at the new stadium).”
Tottenham’s home game against Wolverhampton Wanderers on December 29 is the latest match scheduled for Wembley. After that, the club is due to host Manchester United on January 13, which appears a more realistic target for the first match at the state-of-the-art facility.
Main Image: Tottenham Hotspur
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