Almería players put their footie boots back on eagerly
The first-team squad together with four Academy footballers, resume training. José María Gutiérrez was supervising the preparation
The UD Almería players have put their football boots back on eagerly and have resumed training at the facilities of the Juegos Mediterraneos Stadium following strict safety guidelines laid down by the Spanish Government and health authorities. After the club's sports facilities were disinfected and the footballers, coaching staff and club personnel underwent screening coronavirus tests ordered by LaLiga, the Rojiblancos returned to work nearly two months after it was interrupted. The suspension of the championship was a consequence of the expansion of the coronavirus outbreak.
The players arrived at the stadium already in their kit and on their own in allocated time slots from 9 in the morning onwards. Then, before accessing the facilities, each footballer was assigned a parking lot next to the football grounds. There were two entry points to the main pitch and several others to the Anexo.
According to LaLiga protocol, the squad exercised under their fitness coaches’ instructions, while the keepers did so with their goalkeeping coach. A maximum of six footballers trained on each pitch. José María Gutierrez was also supervising the first day back in training practising social distancing.
The head coach was talking with them, keeping distance, and showing interest in how they were feeling at this challenging time. In fact, it was the first time they met since the competition was suspended due to coronavirus. For instance, José María Gutiérrez asked Juan Ibiza about his injury recovery, and he confirmed that Dr. Cugat, who operated on him in September last year, has already given him the all-clear to train as per usual. Thus, the Balearic island Ibiza native and all of his team-mates will be on track for a return to action. The hope is that First and Second Division games can begin in mid-June.
The preparation was eminently physical, an adaptation to activity. The Almeria squad will be off work on Sunday, while they will start exercising again on Monday with greater intensity and executing more demanding exercises. It will surely be a hectic week.