So THAT’S what five-player training looks like! Chelsea stars back together at their Cobham base as Premier League clubs begin group sessions under new regulations as part of Project Restart
- Premier League clubs voted for a return to group training from Tuesday
- A vote was held on Monday following discussions between players and officials
- Stars are now able to work together in small groups but no contact is allowed
- Officials hope to resume games in June but season may not finish until August
- Just SIX anonymous Premier League players and staff test positive for virus
Chelsea players and some staff returned to Cobham on Tuesday afternoon to begin small group training, in line with the Premier League’s return-to-training protocols and UK Government guidelines on social distancing.
Premier League shareholders voted unanimously on Monday in favour of a return to socially distanced training, with players allowed to work together in groups of five.
Officials needed at least 14 positive votes to press ahead with phase one of the return to training, in which all contact between players remains banned.
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard leads a group of five players in a jog on Tuesday afternoon
Premier League stars are now able to work together in small groups but no contact is allowed
L-R: Tammy Abraham, Willian, Mason Mount and Andreas Christensen were part of one group
And Chelsea wasted no time in taking advantage of the new guidelines, with their players pictured working together in small groups at the club’s training ground.
Manager Frank Lampard and his assistants were present as members of the squad got back together, the work primarily on fitness for the time being.
Lampard’s squad are potentially on a tight schedule with June 12 still being mooted as a prospective return date, despite a number of top players, including Raheem Sterling and Danny Rose, expressing misgivings.
Lampard has insisted he will take the views of his players into account with regards to training
Olivier Giroud (C) looked in good spirits as he warmed up alongside his team-mates
Reece James (L) and Michy Batshuayi showed off their skills in close proximity to one another
And Lampard has insisted he will take the views of his players into account as he looks to strike the right balance between a rigorous training programme with reduced staff levels, and his players’ specific physical and psychological needs.
Lampard added: ‘It’s been a job for us as staff to plan how phase one will look because it will be quite different due to the restrictions on how we can work.
‘It’s good for the players because they will be wanting to get back training in the right conditions; we know it’s difficult circumstances for everyone so it’s going to be a challenge to make sure that we get it right.
The Blues’ training ground was finally full of activity for the first time in two months
Ross Barkley (C) and Marcos Alonso (R) were seen working with assistant manager Jody Morris
‘Our job from the coaching side is to make sure we’re careful with the players. The first steps will have to be very careful but all managers will be thinking a similar thing.
‘You can’t just tell them we’re going in this direction because this is something that’s affected everyone and their families.
‘Football has been put in its place. Everyone wants to get back playing, we all miss it, but we need to know the players are comfortable.’
Midfielder Jorginho was all smiles as he stretched out alone ahead of Tuesday’s session