Madrid (AFP)

Accustomed to large stadiums and large, state-of-the-art facilities, footballers across Europe had to adapt their training to try to stay in shape, homebound due to the coronavirus pandemic ... a radical physical and mental upheaval.

"Cyber-training" in Bayern, rubber bands and dumbbells in Roma, running in Lyon ... How do footballers keep their bodies, their work tools, in perfect working order during their quarantine ?

"The day we say we resume, it will be better for everyone to have prepared beforehand so that we can really resume. Because it will be difficult to grant three weeks of preparation," said the AFP Emmanuel Orhant, medical director of the French Football Federation (FFF).

For players, like everyone else, this quarantine is unheard of. OGC defender Nice Malang Sarr summed it up on the club website as follows: "It is an off-season situation, except that it is not over".

- "You have to be inventive" -

All clubs across Europe have therefore taken steps to try to keep their players at their best level, with specific individualized ... and creative programs. "The confinement reduces the training possibilities, so you have to be inventive to offer them interesting and fun activities", confided to AFP doctor Jean-Philippe Gilardi, doctor of OGC Nice.

On social networks, we have seen different training methods flourish, to say the least: exercises in pairs or with your pet, dribbling challenge with toilet paper, and even the Brazilian international Dani Alves imitating animal racing .

AS Roma ordered work with weights, elastics and explosive strokes to maintain muscle tone. After a period of rest, the players of Olympique Lyonnais will have to comply with a recovery program from Tuesday, according to the confidences of physical trainer Paolo Rongoni, assistant to Rudi Garcia.

"We had to adapt (the exercises) to the spaces they have at home. A little low-intensity running (12 km / h, no more), abs, sheathing, work on the upper body, a little stabilization ... Just a recovery like after the summer break. Unfortunately they are not on vacation, "said Rongoni.

Efforts closely followed by the staffs and doctors of the clubs: "We have provided all the players with the health application that we use at the training center," Betis Seville doctor José Manuel told AFP Alvarez. "This gives us daily reports on performance, fatigue, quality of sleep, possible pain and intensity, mental state, weight and temperature of the players," he added.

Betis, like Roma and Inter, in the countries (Spain and Italy) most affected by the pandemic, have even organized meal delivery services to players' homes. The goal: keep an eye on their diet, and prevent as much as possible from going out.

- "I almost went crazy!" -

But this confinement has a strong impact on these athletes accustomed to the routine of training and sport in the open air. "I almost went crazy yesterday (Wednesday)! I can't go out, I can't train ... It's been nine days. I miss training, I miss playing in front of fans. We're starting to appreciate everything we have, "said Belgian international striker Romelu Lukaku on Thursday.

In confinement, the level of stress and worry is similar to the rest of the population, even if it is still too early to draw conclusions from these effects in players.

"The doctors say that if there are fifteen days off, it takes fifteen days to prepare. What will it take if there are three weeks off? It is worrying. They were formal, saying: "If there are injuries, you should not be surprised," said Philippe Piat, president of the FIFPro players' union, to AFP.

"The + de-training + leads to a loss of muscle mass, an increase in fat mass and a decrease in sports capacities", confirms doctor Jean-Philippe Gilardi, doctor of OGC Nice.

Has quarantine already put footballers out of shape? "Probably. The deadline is short but the repercussions are already possible," said Dr. Gilardi.

© 2020 AFP