EIt’s the winter break after the winter break. Only three matchdays have been completed in the new year, so the ball is already resting in the Bundesliga and in the other big leagues. Why actually? There are no international matches in Europe this week or next. In the other continental associations but already. World Cup qualifiers, which had to be postponed due to the corona pandemic, and the final phase of the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon will be played.
The games now taking place are non-European games originally scheduled to take place between August 31st and September 8th, 2020. They were canceled at the time due to the pandemic. International matches were only played in Europe. Therefore, the German national team is not in action during the short break.
A good 20 Bundesliga professionals were or are in action. The rest are using the current break to gear up for the remaining 14 game days of the season. VfB Stuttgart is the only club in the league even in a training camp in Spain. Many clubs rely on getting ailing kickers fit again. On the fact that they do not expose themselves to an increased risk of infection with private trips. And that their national players come back healthy. It’s hope and fear – in this unusual league break.
It is particularly convenient for teams in crisis, such as those from Stuttgart, Wolfsburg, Mönchengladbach and Berlin. VfB, who have been without a win and goal for five games and, as the table penultimate, are threatened with relegation for the third time in six years, flew to Marbella for almost a week despite the rising number of corona worldwide.
“Of course we weighed up whether it made sense or not. Our experts gave us the green light because we’re flying into a bubble, so to speak,” said VfB coach Pellegrino Matarazzo. According to the 44-year-old, the training camp, in which the club moves largely alone, is possibly even safer than the home environment. “We know where our players are 24 hours a day.”
The Wolfsburg, who have not won any of their last eleven competitive games and even lost nine of them, are considering a temporary change of air. Ultimately, the Lower Saxony, who crashed in 15th place, decided against a trip because of the pandemic situation. Coach Florian Kohfeldt firmly believes that the turnaround can also be heralded on Wolfsburg soil. “I know that everyone says: He always says we need time. But you could see the steps the team was taking,” said the coach. “Now we have two weeks to take the next steps.”
They are also hoping for the same with Borussia from Mönchengladbach, who have arrived in the relegation battle after their last two home defeats. Or at Hertha from Berlin, which has been there all season. Coach Domenico Tedesco from RB Leipzig has “about 20 issues that we want to work through, despite the four wins in the four competitive games of the year so far. We addressed 16 of them, but were only able to train them once.” He wants to improve both tactically and physically.
Leader FC Bayern Munich, who had significant corona concerns at the beginning of the year, or pursuers Borussia Dortmund, are not wrong for the break. On the one hand, BVB is sure, because goalscorer Erling Haaland is in danger of failing again due to muscular problems. On the other hand, because the comebacks of Emre Can and Giovanni Reyna can be pushed forward. “He’s become a lot more stable. We’re on the right track,” Dortmund coach Marco Rose said recently about 19-year-old offensive jewel Reyna, who hasn’t played a game since August due to a long-term muscle injury.
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After the last break around Christmas and New Year’s Eve, the number of corona cases in the league increased – probably also because many players had traveled across the world. They were not instructed to stay here by their clubs, but they were made aware of it. “We will not ban players from flying to their families. Family time is extremely important,” said Frankfurt’s sports director Markus Krösche on Sky. But caution remains the top priority – even during this unusual break.