The Champions League clash between Tottenham Hotspur and AC Milan was thrown into chaos on Tuesday night after both teams’ coaches arrived late for the match.
The two teams were due to kick off at 8pm local time, but the coaches carrying the players from both sides were delayed due to traffic congestion in the area.
The Tottenham coach was the first to arrive, but it was still some 20 minutes after the scheduled kick-off time. AC Milan’s coach then arrived shortly afterwards, but it was too late for the match to start on time.
The delay caused confusion among the players, staff and fans, with some supporters even leaving the stadium in frustration.
The match eventually got underway at 8:20pm, but the delay had a knock-on effect on the game, with the teams struggling to get into their rhythm.
The confusion was compounded by the fact that the teams had to play on a pitch that had been heavily watered due to the wet weather earlier in the day. This made it difficult for the players to keep their footing and pass the ball accurately.
The match ended in a 1-1 draw, with Tottenham’s Harry Kane scoring the equaliser in the second half.
The confusion surrounding the late arrival of the coaches was compounded by the fact that the teams had to play on a pitch that had been heavily watered due to the wet weather earlier in the day. This made it difficult for the players to keep their footing and pass the ball accurately.
The confusion surrounding the late arrival of the coaches was a major talking point after the match, with both teams’ managers expressing their frustration at the situation.
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said: “It was a difficult situation for us. We had to wait for the coaches to arrive and then we had to play on a pitch that was very wet. It was not ideal, but we had to make the best of it.”
AC Milan manager Gennaro Gattuso added: “It was a difficult situation for us. We had to wait for the coaches to arrive and then we had to play on a pitch that was very wet. It was not ideal, but we had to make the best of it.”
The confusion surrounding the late arrival of the coaches has been a major talking point in the aftermath of the match, with both teams’ managers expressing their frustration at the situation.
The incident has also raised questions about the organisation of the Champions League, with some suggesting that the teams should have been given more time to prepare for the match.
It remains to be seen whether any action will be taken against the teams or the organisers of the match, but it is clear that the confusion surrounding the late arrival of the coaches had a major impact on the game.