COVID HAS LEFT MY PLAYERS DRAINED OF ENERGY
Boss Nuno blames virus side-effects for struggling stars
NUNO EspiRitO saNtO says his Wolves players are being drained of energy in a delayed side-effect to coronavirus.
The Portuguese has spoken out after his squad suffered a backlash from supporters following their four-goal hammering by Burnley.
His side came under fire over a lack of commitment as they were put to the sword during a dismal display against the Clarets.
And the Black Country side could have been on the end of a bigger hammering last Sunday.
But Nuno claims that his players are suffering a hangover following an illness that infected TEN players in his first-team squad.
Statistics show that Sean Dyche’s side covered four miles more than the Molineux men during the 90 minutes – and Nuno wanted to know the reason why.
He believes it is a reaction to the virus and believes the Premier League and the medics at every top-flight club should be aware of his findings.
He said: “What you saw was not an issue of commitment, I’m totally sure about that.
“It’s about energy – and it’s something the Premier League and medical departments of the clubs will look at, I’m also sure.
“Infected players have been in isolation. So there are at least 10 days when you can count them out of the squad. We have followed the guidelines.
“But how are their levels of performance after that isolation?
“The player shows no symptoms but I think they have been affected a few weeks after the infection.
“I can tell you that especially in the Burnley game we felt that.
“We felt some of our players were without energy and they were not able to do what they wanted because they weren’t physically able to do them.
“Why didn’t this lack of energy show up after one week of them having the infection?
“It’s something everyone is going to take a look at. We believe that after a player has been infected, the 10 days afterwards are not an issue. The issue is what comes after the virus.
“From all the physical examinations we have done with them, what the players are saying is that there is a complete absence of energy.
“So I can say it’s because of the infection, it’s nothing to do with commitment. They wanted to do things, but something stopped them – and that was energy.
“Maybe we should see that. Maybe it was a mistake, but, just to make it clear, it’s nothing to do with commitment.”
Wolves are playing their 96th game at West Brom tomorrow since the end of July 2019. They will break the century by the end of the season.
Their first XI is competitive, but the lack of quality reinforcements has hit home. The losses of leading scorer Raul
Jimenez through injury and sales of
Diogo Jota and
Matt Doherty to
Liverpool and Spurs have been keenly felt.
Nuno insisted: “It’s not burnout. The situations are different and separate from Covid. Especially this season, we have had intense periods, but we have also had time off. It’s not that.
“These players have been extraordinary.”