LONDON (UK) – Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Nuno Espirito Santo is concerned over the surging number of coronavirus cases in English clubs and fears that the situation could worsen.
It remains doubtful whether Aston Villa’s FA Cup third round-match against Liverpool on Friday would take place as Villa have reported new COVID-19 cases. Shrewsbury Town’s match at Southampton will not be held after an outbreak of the pandemic at the third-tier team.
During this season, as many as four Premier League matches and over 50 games in the English Football League – which governs the three divisions below the top flight – have been rescheduled because of the virus infections.
“Unfortunately, it’s going to happen more,” the BBC quoted Nuno as saying ahead of the FA Cup third-round match against Crystal Palace on Friday.
“Just look at the news. The expectations are terrible. It’s going to get worse.”
Forty new COVID-19 cases were returned by the Premier League on Tuesday – the highest in a week. This comes after two rounds of screening last week.
Players and staff at top-flight clubs have to undergo tests twice a week after a highly infectious variant of the virus caused a surge in the number of cases across the country.
“In football, we live in a bubble and don’t always feel what society is feeling,” Nuno added. “But it’s tough for everyone. Players are only human and the rise in cases is scary.”
