As Atleti prepare to return to training, their skipper discussed the need to be ready for the restart of the season. Atletico Madrid captain Koke has urged his team to hit the ground running as soon as the La Liga year resumes, meaning that they will have to quickly get used to playing behind closed doors.
On Monday it was declared top-flight nightclubs in Spain will go back to training this week for individual periods as part of a staggered return after the coronavirus pandemic.
The season has been on hold since early March, though the goal is for fittings to be performed in June. La Liga chief Javier Tebas has said “the yield of soccer is a sign that society is progressing to the new ordinary” after the impact of Covid-19 on the nation.
Atletico continue played on March 11, when they triumphed 3-2 at Anfield to knock holders Liverpool from the Champions League, with Koke hoping they can easily get up to speed again.
“We are preparing at home trying not to lose too much seriousness or an excessive amount of strength,” the Atleti captain stated in a media conference staged by the club. What we will eliminate the most is the job with the ball.”
“When we start personal training and then with the rest of the group we’ll be taking it little by little.”
“It is a mini-season after we have come from competing at the highest level in Liverpool. We must prepare in the best way and not believe that it is a pre-season.
“This has been a break to start strong for the rest of the season.”
But with games set to be staged behind closed doors, Diego Simeone’s squad won’t have the additional bonus of their fans being present inside the Wanda Metropolitano, something Koke confessed will probably be”odd”.
“It appears that we will play with no audience,” the Spain global said.
“Playing in the home without our people will be odd since they’re always supportive, especially in the toughest moments.
“Hopefully it’ll be as short [a time] as you can [with them] and wherever they are, we’ll feel your service .”
