The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Players tread fine line to stay safe – Connolly
TANNADICE: Challenging times for footballers, says defender
Dundee United defender Mark Connolly has admitted staying coronavirus conscious is extremely challenging for players.
The Irishman, like everyone else in Scottish football, has been concerned with the developments in Aberdeen that saw the Dons’ game with St Johnstone postponed on Saturday.
While McDiarmid Park lay empty, Connolly did get a game and helped United to their first win of the season at Motherwell.
He certainly does not condone the behaviour of the Pittodrie eight but has revealed the fine line you have to tread in order to stay safe while playing during a pandemic.
Connolly said: “It is difficult to get to grips with. We have to be so aware of what we do, not just at training and on matchdays but at home too.
“It is things like taking the kids to the park and going for a meal with the family.
“You have to think everything through and just be so careful.
“We are getting tested all the time but away from the training ground you have to really look after yourself. It is such an important time but it’s something we need to do, not just us but the whole country.”
Connolly added: “As footballers, we need to set an example but we are human as well.
“I think I can speak for the boys here at United when I say we are doing the right things because we want to play football and to get the fans back in as soon as possible.”
Connolly shone a light on how meticulous he has to be as he goes about his “boring” routine.
He added: “You are wary every time you set foot outside the house, checking what you are doing, what you’re touching.
“You are forever cleaning your hands. “It has to be done because there we were at Motherwell on Saturday and we’re playing again on Tuesday, so everything has to be right.
“As a footballer, you have quite a boring life in general – well, maybe more disciplined, but it can come across as boring.
“There are so many things you can’t do because it would impact on your fitness but this has been at a different level altogether.
“I feel sorry for some of the younger boys not being able to meet up with their mates but they all know what is at stake.
“The club as a whole have been brilliant in how they have dealt with everything.”