FOOTBALL IS BACK... IN GERMANY
HEALTH IS PRIORITY
to return, we really miss playing and doing what we love. But it needs to be safe for us to do so. That’s how we’re looking at it. Our health has to come first.
“So right now, players don’t feel comfortable with the idea of returning until it’s totally safe to do so.”
Willian spent the lockdown with his family in Brazil followed by two weeks in quarantine after returning to London – and will go outside for the first time today.
He is the latest big-name player to reveal there is still a widespread fear about teams being forced back before the Covid-19 threat is fully under control.
And with clubs set to give stars the chance to opt out of going back, there is an increasing likelihood that the campaign will have to be cancelled.
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero was the first to voice his concern, with Watford captain Troy Deeney echoing his sentiments, while Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham has spoken about his fear of passing the disease to his asthmatic dad.
Another threat to the restart comes from Sky and BT Sport cameramen reluctant to cover games.
A Sky Sports insider revealed: “Everyone goes on about trying to make everything safe for the players and staff but the cameramen and production people are also in the front line.
“They also need reassuring but seem to have been forgotten.”
Steve Bates
JADON SANCHO is so good that he is ready to follow Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and become a Ballon d’or winner.
That’s the verdict of former Manchester United and Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves.
Barcelona star Messi and Juventus striker Ronaldo have dominated football’s most prestigious solo honour since 2008 – between them carrying it off in 11 out of the last 12 years.
And Hargreaves is convinced that Borussia Dortmund winger Sancho, 20, has the weapons and ability to emulate them as a multiple winner.
Of the £100million Manchester United target, BT Sport Bundesliga pundit Hargreaves said: “Potentially, Jadon is off the charts, he really is.
Exceptional
“I mean, the impact he has had has been quite astonishing.
“A lot of people look at young players taking time to develop. But if you look at those like Wayne Rooney and Jadon – the great ones, exceptional ones – they just figure it out.
“Jadon, like Wayne, you could put him in the middle of any league, in any country, and he would thrive.
“His confidence is off the charts and he never looks fazed.
“Even in the game in the Champions League against PSG, it’s almost like he relished that game against Neymar.
“He played better than anyone on that pitch – even Kylian Mbappe and Neymar. He thrives on creating and scoring goals.
“If you see the way football has become very structured, it’s unique to see a player like him.”
Hargreaves left Bayern Munich for Old Trafford in a £17m deal in 2007 after winning four Bundesliga titles.
United were a title-winning force in those days under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Transition
Aaron Wan-bissaka and Scott Mctominay.
And Hargreaves believes United’s rediscovered attacking ethos would be a big attraction for Sancho.
He added: “Jadon will have a lot of choice, a lot of options.
“I interviewed Virgil van Dijk the other day and he spoke about why he picked Liverpool.
“He said that he did his homework and looked at the squad, the players and the manager to see if it would fit in with his style.
“For Jadon, he will know his own game and he has to find what’s the best fit.
“United have an exceptionally good group of young players coming through and I think any young player would unique to watch. Football has become so structured and technical, but he is a kid who can bring his own style into the game and play with such creativity – it’s so hard to anticipate what he’s going to do.
Priceless