The groundsman, Steve New, defended his team's maintenance of the pitch, stating that they work hard to provide a good surface for players. He pointed out that the pitch was dry due to the hot weather and the sun's effect on the grass.
New also mentioned that the irrigation system was turned on early in the morning, before the game, and remained on throughout the half-time break. He expressed his respect for Dias's football skills but emphasized that being a groundsman requires a different set of skills and knowledge.
New's response to Dias was a lighthearted one, as he included a photo of the pitch with a message saying "look at all the sand" and implying that Dias should be more familiar with the challenges of maintaining a pitch.
