Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will be fine with ‘normal’ players hit most by coronavirus, claims Slaven Bilic

SUNSPORT columnist DANNY HIGGINBOTHAM and West Brom manager SLAVEN BILIC examine the issues facing football.

Bilic has seen it all as a player and  as a boss in the  Premier league and Championship while he was also a big success as a coach for Croatia. Our man OSCAR PAUL  listened in as they dissected the crisis engulfing the game.

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Slaven Bilic doesn’t think the likes of Lionel Messi will be affected by coronavirusCredit: Getty Images – Getty

DANNY HIGGINBOTHAM: How has it been for you in terms of working with the players during this period?

SLAVEN BILIC: My idea is to not train them mentally and just keep them fit-ish.

For me the key is not to gain any weight. If they do that and stay fit-ish they can play in two weeks. I think we will have between ten days’ and three weeks’ notice — for me, that is enough.

I was with Croatia two times at the Euros, where you have three weeks to prepare. It is not ideal but everyone is in the same boat. The guys are responding great.

We are in constant touch with them, especially the fitness coaches who are monitoring their work. I speak to the players to remind them what we have to do, what we can’t forget to ask about their families.

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DH: How tough has it been mentally for them?

SB: It is tough for everybody, especially the foreigners.

Living by themselves, it’s extremely difficult. Some of them went home but some can’t. They have got to be here and are having to wait because we don’t know when we will be back. It is not easy for anybody because nobody was prepared for this.

DH: Has your role as manager changed much?

SB: The biggest problem is we don’t know when we will start again.

We had a plan before the lockdown which was great, but at the time I said, ‘what if we don’t start again?’ Then, it’s better to tell them to do nothing for a couple of weeks.

West Brom boss  Bilic believes coronavirus will have a huge impact on finances in footballCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

DH: There has been a lot of talks about the financial implications across the game. How do you think the footballing landscape will change?

SB: It’s not just in football. Just like I don’t think the value of Ferraris or Mayfair apartments will drop, there will be enough clubs to buy the crème de la crème.

Mbappe, Messi, Ronaldo — they will never lose their value. But the ‘normal’ players will suffer.  

I think there are going to be a lot of loans, or swaps like in the NBA. I also think that some of the crazy high commissions for agents will go.  

DH: What about the contract  situation? They are looking to extend deals until the end of the season but what if someone already has a move set up and then gets injured?

SB: The only way to finish this  season in an honest and legal way is to allow the clubs to keep their players. You’re right, the players would be risking a bit, but for me the clubs are the priority.

These clubs were there for them when they gave them the contracts. It’s not the time to think of individuality. You have to sacrifice for the sake of football because without clubs we wouldn’t be able to play.

DH: What if the season can’t end. You are second in the Championship. I think those in automatic places should be promoted in all three  leagues, with no relegation.

SB: We should try to do everything to finish it, even if it drags on until September. In Germany and Italy they are planning on starting  training at the beginning of May. It’s getting better in most of the countries, thank God.

If we can’t start or finish until September then the whole world will have much more important things to worry about.

I like your idea but it doesn’t matter  that West Brom are in a good position now, I would prefer for us to finish it on the pitch.

Danny Higginbotham believes the top two Championship teams should be automatically promoted

DH: You’re one of the most animated, lively managers I’ve spoken to. How do you get rid of all that energy every day?

SB: I have found a new routine and it is more important than football. We all have breakfast together, which rarely happens normally. I have enjoyed playing with the kids and one of my daughters is going to school so I have to do maths and English with her.

I walk the dog and have an exercise machine from the training ground. You know those little things, that everyone was telling us are important in life.

We have to watch movies or read romantic books to be reminded of them. You finish the book and say it’s important but then you go back to normal life. Now we are living it, and it is great. But of course it’s for the wrong reason, and that is awful.

DH: What is your view on how  football has responded? A lot of  people are doing a lot of great things but there has been pressure on  footballers to help.

SB: In my 35 years as a professional, I am sure that if I found something it was that footballers love to help. Sometimes you have to remind them because they are  living in a different world but I know they are helping.

When I spoke to the board at West Brom, the players also called and said they don’t want the non-playing staff to lose a single penny.

The players and staff are more than ready to fill their wages from ours. That’s the minimum  I think players should do.

But like anyone else, they don’t like to be cornered. In every walk of life you have people who are tight and dead greedy but in football you can talk about in  general — they love to help.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk