Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has said he felt “so safe” on his return to training at the club’s facilities in Carrington on Wednesday.
English soccer was halted in mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic but clubs can now train in small groups as part of the Premier League’s ‘Project Restart’, which envisages a return to play in June.
“It’s been a strange few months, but it has been a protocol which the club has followed. It seems such a safe environment,” said centre back Maguire, 27. “It’s our first day back today, but it seems so safe and everyone is respecting it so well, so long may that continue and I’m sure no one will have any problems.”
The league confirmed on Tuesday that six people from three different clubs had tested positive for COVID-19.
Maguire believes United are going to great lengths to ensure the well-being of players and staff, with temperature checks carried out each morning and training conducted in 30-minute slots, with a different coach in charge of each segment.
“The safety, it seems really well organised. Like you said, we all got tested before we came in, so everyone in the changing room has a negative test,” the England defender added. “There are a lot fewer people at the training ground. Today I was in a group of four, working with one coach, so not many people.”
“It’s the first step. We’re in phase one, let’s get through this phase without any troubles. It’s only the first day, but it’s been a good start for me.”
Manchester United were fifth in the Premier League with 45 points, three behind fourth-placed Chelsea when the season was suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur are investigating Serge Aurier for a breach of social distancing rules after the defender posted a picture of himself with his barber on social media, the BBC reported on Wednesday.
Ivory Coast international Aurier, 27, put a photo of his hairdo on Instagram. People from different households have been barred from socialising due to the coronavirus pandemic since the British government imposed lockdown measures on March 23, closing businesses including hairdressers.
“We are investigating the circumstances and will deal with the incident appropriately,” the BBC reported Spurs as saying in a statement.
Aurier, who had previously apologised after posting videos of himself and team mate Moussa Sissoko doing shuttle runs together during the lockdown, defended his behaviour.
“My hairdresser is negative and me too, so stop talking in a vacuum. Put on masks and gloves when you come to take pictures at the training centre — it’s part of the rules too,” he wrote.
