DECLAN RICE and Hugo Lloris have warned football chiefs players will suffer if the season restarts too soon.
The Premier League and EFL are desperate to get going again after the coronavirus lockdown to avoid financial chaos.
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England and West Ham ace Declan Rice admits it has been difficult to stay at maximum fitness while in lockdownCredit: Getty – Contributor
Tottenham keeper Hugo Lloris has compared the bodies of footballers to delicate enginesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
And the Government hopes competitions can resume within WEEKS.
But West Ham’s England ace Rice said: “If you try to go straight back into it, you’ll get so many injuries.
That’s what clubs are saying. You need at least three weeks of high-intensity interval training to get yourself back in shape with the football.”
Tottenham’s French World Cup-winning keeper Lloris claims footballers are like Formula One cars and need time to get up to full speed.
‘LIKE AN F1 CAR’
Prem and EFL chiefs are targeting behind-closed-doors games starting in early June.
But Lloris, 33, insisted: “The sportsman is a machine comparable in some ways to an F1 car — everything is fine-tuned.
“You have to pay attention when you restart the engine.
“When we do restart, athletes will need time to get back into shape for the final sprint.
“At the moment we’re just keeping in shape — but we’re very far away from our top physical condition.”
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In an interview with French newspaper Le Parisien, Lloris added: “If we finish the season behind closed doors, it won’t be the same sport, but we will manage.
“Sport will still have its place. It has this ability to bring people together.
“As footballers, we have greater responsibility. There will be a tomorrow but the psychological impact will be stronger on some people.
‘CATASTROPHIC’
“And I imagine it will be a fairly long transition period before things get back to normal.
“There are already more than 200,000 people who have died. There will be psychological consequences for people.
“It’s catastrophic. We never imagined living through anything like this.
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“We have to raise ourselves up together, make more of an effort and show more unity.”
Midfielder Rice, 21, admits it is hard to train at maximum intensity while on lockdown.
Though he has appreciated a break from the pressure of the Hammers’ fight to avoid relegation.
Speaking on Sky’s Soccer AM, he added: “It’s tough as you are used to seeing your team-mates, going out and doing day-to-day things.
“But it’s nice to not feel the pressure of going out and playing for three points every week and have all the stress.
“Though mentally, it’s really, really tough training on your own.
“You’re going for a plod around the park, but it’s mentally really tough to get it done.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
