Cotterill: I am just happy to be living

SHREWSBURY boss Steve

Cotterill is still suffering the effects of Covid a full year after testing positive for the virus.

It is an anniversary the 57-year-old has no intention of celebrating as he combats a chest infection, one of the many hangovers from a six-month scrap for his life that involved two stays in hospital.

No one has deserved today’s moment in the FA Cup limelight against Liverpool more than the experienced Cotterill whose normal chirpy West Country burr has been temporarily affected by his current chest complaint.

Cotterill (below) explained: “I’ve had to go back on some antibiotics because I’ve got a bit of a chest infection. It is what it is. Whether I have to live with the effects of Covid, I don’t know – I hope not.

“The winter has affected me. I was getting better in the summer because I was exercising. I had to do the exercise to get fit enough to come back to work, but now I’m back I can’t afford to do the exercise at the same time so that will have to wait until the summer months when I’ll be able to get back on it again.”

He added: “The trouble is when I got Covid there were no vaccines.

“It was a year ago almost to the day when I tested positive. I don’t think I will be celebrating, but I don’t think I will ever forget it, either. To be honest, I’m just glad I’m still here.

“I’m looking forward to being at Anfield as no doubt our players and supporters are as well. We’re just hoping that everyone at Liverpool football club, including Jurgen Klopp, his staff and players if they have tested positive – it’s pretty obvious some have – that they are OK and they are not suffering too badly.”

As well as battling Covid, Cotterill has been involved in a scrap against relegation. With all that he has gone through, did he ever think about walking away?

“Although I’ve gone through hell, no, there has never been a time when I thought I would walk away from my job here,” he said.

“I still have things I want to achieve in the game. What it has done is make me even more determined to achieve those goals.”