Pep Guardiola says his Manchester City players will have to adapt to a difficult surface at Rodney Parade, following the Mansfield manager David Flitcroft’s comments about the state of the Newport County pitch.
Mansfield were Newport’s last opponents in League Two and Flitcroft said he was glad he would not have to play on such a heavy surface again. The Welsh side have already knocked Leicester and Middlesbrough out of this season’s FA Cup, and after last season’s shock defeat at Wigan Guardiola knows his players must be prepared.
“Anything can happen in one game, especially away from home,” the City manager said. “I’ve seen Newport’s last few games and they are incredible at set pieces and throw-ins. What they do, they do really well. They are taller and stronger than us and, in some areas, might be better than us, so we will have to make sure we play our own game and not theirs and focus on what we are good at.”
One thing Guardiola can promise is that whatever the result he will not attempt to use the state of the pitch as an excuse. “It’s up to us to adapt and we accept that challenge,” he said. Read more