There is a split among Premier League managers over a suggestion that there should be a ‘firebreak’ in the season amid a rise of Covid cases. The Premier League have outlined the ‘intention’ to continue the current fixture list.
Premier League statement read: “While recognising a number of clubs are experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks, it is the League’s intention to continue its current fixture schedule where safely possible. The health and wellbeing of all concerned remains our priority.”
That comes after calls from Brentford manager Thomas Frank for all games to be called off up until boxing day.
Thomas Frank said: “The Covid cases are going through the roof at all Premier League clubs. Everyone is dealing with it and everyone has a problem at this moment in time. To postpone this round [of Premier League games] and the Carabao Cup would give everyone a week at least to clean and do everything at the training ground so everything is fine and we break the chain at every club.”
It’s an idea that Newcastle manager Eddie Howe would also like to see implemented.
Eddie Howe said: “I don’t think we want half the games played and half the games not played. The league really loses something if it becomes disjointed in terms of the number of games played. I feel a decision needs to be made for the benefit of the league and to make sure there’s integrity through the competition.”
However, there are other managers who would rather see the league continue as planned, with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp asking a key question over a possible break.
Jurgen Klopp said: “I’m not against stopping the league, I just don’t see the 100 per cent benefit of it. Stopping it means stopping now for one or two weeks, so five or six games. When do you want to play them? Or we just play on. It is really difficult because step by step players will get infected. We have games on Sunday and Wednesday, the FA Cup where if I am right or wrong the opponent [Shrewsbury Town] does not really have a testing regime or the vaccination rate is low, but we don’t get any information because it is just football.”
