Handling players' health and fitness during COVID-19 pandemic 💪🏽⚽️

In the third in a series looking at how Valencia CF have adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic and established specific protocols, VCF Media talk to Dr. Pedro López Mateu, the head of the club’s medical services, as well as his colleague Dr. Cristina Pérez and fitness coach Juan Monar.

In the video, they explain how a rapid reaction from the Valencia CF president was key to reducing the effects of the pandemic, the extensive tests undertaken with the players, and the importance of setting out the strictest possible guidelines for any movements within the club.

All this has been taking place whilst trying to ensure that the players reach peak fitness for the start of the 2020/21 season -something which involves the collaboration of the  medical services and the coaching staff.

Safety, precaution and solidarity have been the cornerstones of the club’s handling of an unprecedented situation, and the club doctors believe that the measures taken go above and beyond those recommended by authorities as they strive for the best results.

"We considered various scenarios. The first is the 'ideal' scenario, in which there are no incidents or positive cases, and in which the team can continue with training in a normal way. However, there can be circumstances in which there are positive cases, so we look at how that might affect the group and the specific person who has tested positive," explains Monar, who has now helped the team run through four weeks of preseason training.

"We are prepared to undertake any kind of modified training session, and the players also have sufficient equipment to train with according to their needs. If they don't have that, then the club provide that equipment."