Bundesliga restart does not mean return of normalcy: Reus
| BORUSSIA DORTMUND | SCHALKE 04 |
Borussia Dortmund forward Marco Reus has said the return of the Bundesliga this weekend after a two-month pause due to the Covid-19 pandemic does not signal the return of normalcy.
German’s top flight will become the first of Europe’s top five leagues to restart its season when matches take place from Saturday (May 16) without spectators. Dortmund will face local rivals Schalke 04.
But while Reus said he was looking forward to playing again, he stressed that the matches were taking place in empty stadiums under strict health and safety conditions in order to save the football industry from financial disaster.
“I don’t think we can speak about normalcy and I don’t think we should either,” Reus said in an interview with Spanish newspaper El Pais on Friday.
“We are hoping to save an industry that employs 55,000 people, but the supporters at home will know we still haven’t defeated the coronavirus and that we are far from normalcy.
“We cannot be complacent now. We all need to listen to the recommendations of the doctors and the politicians. We cannot be more clear about that. But if football can bring a bit of variety to people’s living rooms, then I’ll be happy.”
Reus is unable to face Schalke due to an injury but has been staying with his teammates in a hotel as teams have been sent into mandatory seven-day isolation in order to reduce the risk of infection.
But the Germany international said that was a small sacrifice to make in order to safeguard the league’s future.
“Right now, we should not make the mistake of complaining about anything. The league and the clubs are trying to save the system. By working closely with the politicians, they have found a way for football to work again,” he said.
“The basic condition is that teams are isolated for a week. That’s how we can continue to do our jobs. It would be wrong to say anything negative about this.”
Besides Reus, Dortmund will also be without midfielders Emre Can and Axel Witsel, who are out with muscle strains. – REUTERS
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