German Sami Khedira, an Italian Juventus player, spends his time learning to play the piano. His compatriot, Robin Gossens, an Atalanta player, reviews lessons for psychology exams, and Spanish clubs compete in electronic games, thus imposing health isolation due to the new Corona virus affects its lives on football players, and now threatens The repercussions on the physical and mental levels.

Using time for other things .. result of 2 days #StayAtHome pic.twitter.com/sD4gqISggo

- Sami Khedira (@SamiKhedira) March 15, 2020

After the "Covid-19" virus imposed near-complete paralysis on global sport, thousands of soccer players found themselves in voluntary or compulsory isolation, which required them to make an additional effort to maintain their physical fitness and mental motivation in preparation for the resumption of competitions whenever this became available.

"Everyone should be ready to resume the exercises as soon as the health authorities authorize it," Emmanuel Orhan, the medical director of the French Football Federation, told AFP.

But this date appears to be the biggest question mark, as the virus that killed up to Monday more than 15,000 people, froze sporting activities for unknown periods, and prompted the imposition of extensive restrictions on movement of travel and travel, including isolation measures affecting nearly a billion people around the world.

For footballers, not knowing when to return to the green rectangle always puts them on alert: Theoretically, the leagues wheel may return to spinning after weeks, and the clubs have to be ready, especially since the soccer season has arrived before its suspension, to stages close to the finish line .

"Players may need to take their summer breaks now, we may end the 2019-2020 season and start the 2020-2021 season immediately without a leave at all," Brighton England player Glenn Murray told AFP.

Asked if players would accept a similar scenario, Murray said that "we have no other choice."

This mode requires fitness coaches to prepare weekly programs and individual exercises, explain them to players online, and communicate with video technology.

"We have given each of our players the necessary guidance," even food and medical, "explains the medical director of Real Betis, Jose Manuel Alvarez.

Betis players were divided into two groups according to their physical characteristics, and the coach supervises each of them. Each player is provided with a special device to record data on fatigue, sleep, pain and even mental state, while players report their weight, calories, and exercise goals that they have been able to achieve.

"The players realize that if they don't do their job, they will find themselves at a disadvantage compared to their teammates when they return to work," Alvarez said.

Players have no excuse to refrain from exercising, as most homes have a designated hall for that. In the event that it was not available, club administrations provided it for them during this period.

French club head Marseille Jacques-Henri Erode explains that the fitness of the players is "accurate, complex and sophisticated, requiring almost daily maintenance."

self discipline
Some clubs, including Bayern Munich, the German champion in the past seven seasons, have set up virtual training sessions via the Internet, in which all players will participate via video. In France, Club Lyon asked its players to rest until March 24, while Atletico Madrid of Spain resorted to conducting tactical training through video meetings between players and coaches to stay in the game atmosphere.
The club of the Spanish capital also appears strict in the diet. Like most clubs, players hand out specially prepared meals, giving them some options. All players eat lunch and dinner at the same time.

But self-discipline is not easy for everyone.
"Of course, some players are better at dealing with the issue," said Jonathan Brant, the Welsh agent, Gareth Bale, for Real Madrid.

Personal circumstances govern the status quo. Domestic isolation may give players an opportunity to spend more time with their families, but in other cases, this may make it out of reach.

For example, Italian striker Romelu Lukaku was denied the Italian Inter striker from seeing his mother as suffering from diabetes, given that "Covid-19" poses a greater risk to the elderly and people who suffer from chronic diseases. After returning home, he was seen celebrating and strolling with his best friend.
"Some foreign players have been denied the opportunity to go home. It is very difficult for them," said Murray. The 36-year-old, who is on the verge of the end of his career, regrets the time lost, stressing that what he is going through "made me more determined to play for as long as possible."

For those who made football a way of life, the stage is difficult, especially since their schedule is always crowded with matches, exercises and other activities.

"The fact that we are unable to train is very strange, trying to do other things, but there is nothing but" Netflix, "the Bosnian Asmar Begovic, the Italian Milan keeper, said.

Despite the efforts made, those who see the game believe that the players ’fitness will not be the same upon their return to the stadiums, and their chances of injury will increase.

"Doctors say that a 15-day layoff should be followed by 15-day exercises. What will it take if he is resting for three weeks? They were clear: Don't be surprised if you fall Injuries. "

Alvarez stresses, "The risk of injuries is something we really expect. They will not be able to take a regular training session, which is clear."