MLS: 3 questions for coronavirus impact
2. How fit will the players be?
Upon the eventual return of the league, which could be in 30 days, two months, or a whole lot longer (at this stage, it would be irresponsible to speculate just how long sport will be postponed across the globe), how prepared will players and teams be to play?
More from MLS Multiplex
- Javier Milei Elected in Argentina: Potential Impacts on MLS and Signings of Argentine Players
- Orlando City and New York City FC in the Battle for Matías Arezo; Grêmio Enters Negotiations! Who Will Come Out on Top?
- USA, Honduras, Panama, and Canada Close in on a Spot in the 2024 Copa America
- De Gea Turns Down Al-Nassr’s Lucrative Offer: Speculation Points to Possible Reunion with Messi at Inter Miami
- Messi’s Magnetic Impact in the United States
At present, MLS has implemented a training moratorium, which was extended to Friday, March 20th earlier this week. The training moratorium applies to first-team training, reserve teams and academies and will see all club-based activities suspended for the foreseeable future.
Players are expected to conduct in social distancing, have also been requested to remain within their respective club’s market, with travel back to their native homes largely prohibited, though they are free to work out at home, if they are willing. It is obviously not ideal and could lead to some issues when players do return to first-team activities, whenever that may be.
Even if players are allowed to train regularly before the end of the league postponement, they will not be fully match-sharp when they return to senior action. After only two weeks of action before the postponement, it is also doubtful that players were in their best shape entering the 30-day hiatus. It could take teams a few weeks to get back to their best and there might be a few weird results as a result.