GIFT OF THE JAB
Bosses call on reluctant PL stars to get vaccinated
PREMIER LEaguE managers have urged their unvaccinated players to get jabbed amid growing fears over health and disruption to the season.
Several top-flight bosses used yesterday’s pre-match press conferences to reveal that many of their stars are refusing to be vaccinated.
Clubs are concerned about the potential for outbreaks of the Covid-19 virus — and the subsequent impact on their seasons — if all players do not get the jab.
arsenal’s Premier League opener against Brentford last Friday was hours away from being cancelled after four gunners players tested positive ahead of the game.
Manchester City boss Pep guardiola was among those who urged players to listen to the advice of the medical experts.
‘The players have to know that it can protect them and the rest of society but nobody can obligate them to do it,’ he said. ‘But, when all the scientists, doctors, the big specialists in medicine say that the only solution to eradicate or help to move forward is being vaccinated, I think they should consider it.’
Newcastle boss Steve Bruce revealed that a significant number of his squad do not want to be vaccinated. The club have organised two vaccination sessions at the
training ground for players and staff and Bruce strongly believes that everyone should receive the jab.
An outbreak at Newcastle’s training ground last November caused the postponement of the first Premier League fixture following Project Restart.
Captain Jamaal Lascelles and Allan Saint-Maximin missed several matches and were particularly unwell.
More recently, goalkeeper Karl Darlow spent almost a week in hospital and lost more than a stone in weight as he fought coronavirus.
But Bruce says those episodes have still not persuaded all of his players to get vaccinated.
‘We have a lot of players who have not had the jab,’ he said. ‘That’s their prerogative.
‘We’ve witnessed it with a few of our players who were really sick. I would advise them to get the jab.’
Chelsea midfielder Christian Pulisic is the latest high-profile star to test positive and will miss tomorrow’s trip to Arsenal. The American is doublejabbed and is not suffering from any symptoms.
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has lost goalkeeper Dean Henderson to Covid-19 in recent weeks and said: ‘My players are not all double-jabbed. I am and I encourage the lads to take the vaccination but we can’t force anyone.’
It is understood many players are worried about the side-effects of the vaccine and want to know more about the potential for long-term issues.
But with the Premier League encouraging all players and staff to get the vaccination given the potential for mandatory Covid passports from October 1, clubs are now wondering what impact that could have on the availability of unvaccinated players. The Premier League say they are awaiting further Government announcements and will follow their guidance.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says their season opener at Brentford should have been postponed after his two star strikers, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette, were among four of his players who tested positive.
‘I was surprised but the regulators decided that the best thing to do was to play the game,’ he said.
Arsenal informed the Premier League of the outbreak — which also saw Willian and back-up goalkeeper Alex Runarsson contract the virus — although they did not make a formal request for a rearrangement. With no pre-determined number of cases triggering an automatic postponement in the Premier League’s guidelines, each situation is treated on a case-bycase basis and the game went ahead as Arsenal were still able to name a 20-man squad.
Aubameyang could be on the bench for tomorrow’s visit of Chelsea but Lacazette has been ruled out. Arsenal have completed the £30million signing of midfielder Martin Odegaard (pictured), although visa issues have prevented him being registered in time for this weekend.
Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale’s £30m arrival was completed in time for him to be involved against Chelsea.
Meanwhile, the British Grand Prix and Wimbledon have shown mass participation events can be conducted safely, according to research conducted for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
Data from 37 recent trial events showed case numbers of Covid-19 were largely in line with or below community infection rates.