German clubs resume training (with drastic rules)

Back to daily life in the Bundesliga where the footballers resumed training on Monday after a month of layoff due to the coronavirus. But nothing is more alike: gloves are compulsory, tackles and contacts prohibited and the next match, if it takes place, will wait several weeks… "It's a pleasant feeling" to "play a little more football and to see the colleagues again ”, rejoices Rouwen Hennings, player of Fortuna Düsseldorf.

Like most of the 18 elite clubs in German football, the striker has returned to his club since Monday for training in small groups. But as the new coronavirus pandemic continues to rage in Europe, players and coaches must now adapt their practices to comply with the recommendations of health authorities.

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Training in groups of five maximum, no handshakes or hugs to say hello, a minimum gap of 1.5 m between each person: social distancing measures are strictly applied. "It was a very unusual feeling to train in small groups," said Bayern Munich captain Manuel Neuer.

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Especially since sharing and team spirit, exchanges are very limited. Like most other clubs, Bayern members were instructed to shower elsewhere and were given post-workout snacks to take home.

In Wolfsburg, the players had to “by measure of hygiene” and prudence, had to train the hands covered with gloves, in spite of a spring weather and a thermometer reaching 22 degrees. "Of course, we know it's necessary, but it's still a little funny," admitted forward Maximilian Arnold.

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On the exercise side too, we adapt. No more tackles or close play techniques. "I would love to be able to tackle but there I can't do it," said Hoffenheim defender Havard Nordtveit. A relative frustration that other players feel, but the need for which is perfectly understood.

"Of course, you can't get into hard tackles or fight for the ball, but I think these new rules are well suited to the current situation," notes Rouwen Hennings.

The Playstation as a best friend

Despite everything, this return to the field remains welcome after several weeks of relative inactivity. "I missed the guys. The PlayStation had become my best friend, "it feels good" to have a real balloon at my feet again, "said Union defender Christopher Lenz.

German football has been stopped since March 13. And for some, this forced rest, although interspersed with individual training or by videoconference, seems to have left its mark. "My control of the ball has never been perfect, but we can see that some of my teammates have not really trained with the ball for three weeks", noted Nordtveit.

Resumed May 2?

So on the coaching side, we work hard to put the footballers back to level. Especially in small groups, nothing escapes the keen eye of technicians. "The physical trainers can really go all out, and the players are demanding," notes Schalke 04 coach David Wagner. For them, "everything is better than running alone in the forest". "What matters most today is to continue working on our physical condition to be ready" if the season resumes, confirms Havard Nordtveit.

For the moment, no date has yet been set for the resumption of the championship. The German Football League (DFL) is in talks with clubs and authorities for a possible resumption of the Bundesliga on May 2. This could make it the first European championship to resume, even if in this case, the matches would be played in front of empty stands, while public events are banned in Germany ... A possible decision is expected for April 17.

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