Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Alonso feels MLS can be safe
Inter Miami CF coach confident in protocols league has set forth
Under typical circumstances, Diego Alonso said Inter Miami CF would need about a month of practice as a team to be ready to play games again.
But the Inter Miami coach understands the new coronavirus pandemic, and Major League Soccer’s subsequent suspension of games since March 12, has created an abnormal situation for the club during its inaugural MLS season. And it could reportedly result in an ambitious plan to help the league’s return to playing games.
“We understand this isn’t our normal situation,” Diego said during a web conference call with reporters Wednesday. “We’re going to have to adapt and probably be ready in two to three weeks.”
Multiple media outlets reported this week that MLS is considering having all 26 teams travel to the Orlando area to have closed-door matches for a tournament played at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Kissimmee.
The Athletic reported Tuesday that the league is proposing that teams travel to Orlando and start individual training by June 1, small group training by June 8, full-team training by June 15 and games for the tournament by the beginning of July.
Inter Miami started voluntary individual workouts at the club’s outdoor training fields in Fort Lauderdale May 6, but an MLSwide moratorium on small group and full team training remain in place through Friday with the league’s stoppage in play set to run through at least June 8.
Under the reported proposal, family members would not be permitted to travel with teams with the Washington Post reporting Monday evening that at least 1,000 people from around the league would travel to the central Florida region for the tournament.
MLS commissioner Don Garber has said on multiple occasions the league is focused on exploring a variety of formats to play the entire 2020 season, which could include pushing back the MLS Cup from November to December, or possibly later.
Although Florida has witnessed the reopening of some nonessential businesses within the past week, the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex remains temporarily closed.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said during his news conference Wednesday that he’d welcome the possibility of the reported tournament.
“Now, we’re not going to necessarily have fans, but there have been reports that Major League Soccer may want to have their season in Orlando — do it,” DeSantis said. “We want to have you here.”
Alonso expressed confidence in the league when asked about the risk of players or coaches possibly being exposed to the coronavirus when MLS games resume.
“We feel very safe with the protocols the league and the club have implemented,” Alonso said. “These protocols are very strict to ensure that we’re safe. I know that when we go back to playing, it’s probably going to be very similar. When we return, we know testing is going to be a key factor for this to happen.
“The league is working very hard to make sure that we can play the most games possible and also ensure the safety of the players. We need to make sure we continue to follow the protocols so we can be back soon.”