Italian outlet Tutto Mercato Web today managed an interview with Nottingham Forest technical director François Modesto.
The chat had obviously not a lot to do with football. The official has spoken only about Coronavirus and the effects it’s been having at the club and in his personal life.
Now that football has finally been suspended in the United Kingdom, Modesto claims it’s surprising how the country had been running normally in the past week.
“I was there three days ago. All open, all around, in pubs, in restaurants. In London trains full, said to do normal life and in case of symptoms to be checked. Probably in Italy a few weeks ago the problem was underestimated as well, then given the gravity some measures were taken,” Modesto told Tutto Mercato Web.
Regarding his job at Nottingham Forest and Olympiacos, which includes a lot of travelling, Modesto claims his life should have a big change in the coming weeks.
“Today, people’s health matters more than work. We will try to give continuity to what has been done with phones and computers. From today some leagues have stopped. Yesterday we played, we will probably also stop in Greece. It will change a lot: I told my scouts to work on the computer.
“Obviously we have been carrying on for a while studying many players, but we’ll have to see how it will end. If the leagues will resume, the dates of the transfer market and much more. We have to stick together.”
Asked about the difference between Greece and England, Modesto said: “I have lived two different worlds: in Greece bars and restaurants are closing; in England it’s not a dramatic situation like in Italy, but although I hope not, I think it will lead to drastic measures if need be: Until yesterday we played with full stadiums and finally today decided to suspend the leagues.”
The director has also confirmed that both Nottingham Forest and Olympiacos have tested all their employees for Coronavirus: “Yes, of course. All. Both at Olympiacos and Nottingham. Fortunately, the tests were all negative.”
