Friday 17th December 2021
Omikron paralyzes the Premier League
Chelsea’s corona chaos also affects Timo Werner
The Omikron wave is rolling over English football. More and more games in the Premier League are canceled because the clubs no longer have enough players. The German national player Timo Werner is also tested positive. The calls for the game to be suspended get louder.
Brentford FC cannot train because they had to close their training grounds due to a corona outbreak. Watford FC and Norwich City no longer have enough players for the next game due to numerous corona cases in the team. And nothing works at Leicester City either. Because of the rapid expansion of the Omikron variant, the Premier League canceled several games over the weekend.
Further failures are imminent. It was announced on Thursday evening that Chelsea pros Timo Werner, Romelu Lukaku, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ben Chilwell also tested positive for the virus. According to coach Thomas Tuchel, Kai Havertz felt uncomfortable. “So far it has not been positive,” said Tuchel. “But we are waiting for more test results.” Whether the Blues will play in Wolverhampton on Sunday is open.
Strongly weakened, the Londoners only scored 1: 1 (0: 0) against Everton on Thursday evening and are now threatening to lose the connection in the table. Liverpool FC, on the other hand, prevailed 3-1 (2-1) in front of their own audience against penultimate Newcastle United, although Virgil van Dijk and Fabinho were absent due to positive tests.
Lack of understanding among coaches
As the league announced, the Saturday games Southampton FC against Brentford, Watford against Crystal Palace, West Ham United against Norwich City and the match between Everton FC and Leicester City scheduled for Sunday will be postponed at the request of the clubs. The match between Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday had already been canceled.
In Great Britain, the government estimates that hundreds of thousands are infected with the Omicron variant every day. The 3G rule now applies to attending major events such as football matches in the top leagues. Due to the corona, the game between Burnley FC and Watford on Wednesday and the game between Leicester and Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday could not take place. Several games in the 2nd division were also canceled.
Like Man United, Brentford and Co., Spurs have also reported numerous corona cases. Coach Antonio Conte showed a lack of understanding last week that the game should continue first. “The situation upsets me a little because the situation is serious,” said the Italian. “Why do we have to take the risk?” Brentford coach Thomas Frank called on Thursday to cancel the entire game day and postpone the league cup round. “The corona cases are going through the roof at all Premier League clubs,” said Frank, “everyone has to grapple with it and have problems.” Relocation offers time to break the chain of infection. This could also help ensure that the games could take place on the traditionally popular Christmas game day.