Everton winger Bernard was interviewed at Stamford Bridge following the Premier League match against Chelsea at the weekend.
It was only on Monday that ESPN Brasil released much of the interview, and, predictably, there was a section on Coronavirus.
Bernard was first asked by reporter João Castelo Branco about the possibility of playing behind closed doors. He claimed that this wouldn’t be the ideal scenario, but understands the need of it.
“It’d be a pity for everyone. For the championship, for the players too. Because it’s always good when you enter a stadium, go to the stadium, and the stadium is packed with people to watch the game,” Bernard told ESPN Brasil.
“But it’s a situation that you have to take action. You have to get there and have a position, because unfortunately more cases are appearing, so this is really worrying. Because we sometimes think that it cannot happen to us, but we are closer than we expect. So I think that due care must be taken. So if we have to do this, unfortunately we’d be really sad, but understand it on the other hand.”
“No, until today I haven’t played with a closed stadium, with zero public. So I’m sure it will be very strange, it will be complicated, but it’s that thing, we go there on the pitch, we always have to play looking for the result.”
Bernard was also asked if Everton have been sending their players specific instructions of how to prevent contamination.
“There are always warnings. Even to greet on a daily basis, they say to avoid greeting, more or less with ‘hi, good morning’, not to shake hands. Also always use alcohol gel. So I think it’s also important to have that kind of control there. Because we know that everyone takes care of themselves here, but I think that all due care is important.”
Despite all concerns about the upcoming European fixtures, with many taking place behind closed doors, the Premier League is still to take any action regarding games.
