Staying sharp: How players are training during the lockdown

As the quarantine period in Italy moves into its third week, players and staff are beginning to adjust to the current situation. But how are they maintaining their fitness and focus during the period?

A number of players have spoken to the media about their current routines over the last few days - here's what they have had to say about how they are going through these unusual circumstances.

HENRIKH MKHITARYAN

“In this difficult moment you can’t do many things. You can only stay home to be safe and wait for everything to be resolved.

“I’m waking up, having breakfast, talking with family members about different things: the virus, life, the future, the past. Then in the evening I’m trying to watch a movie, with the family or sometimes on my own. Besides that, we have the programme from the team for training at home, so I’m trying to keep myself fit.

“When I heard the situation wasn’t the best and everyone was asking us to stay home, I stopped going outside for a walk or a run. It’s better to stay inside and be an example to everyone, to show them that this is more important, to follow the rules and be at home.

“I’m trying to mix up everything together: the ball, having a bike at home, and some other stuff like dumbbells. I’m trying to do everything the club sends me in the programme. It’s not easy because of course you have limited space and there’s some stuff that you don’t have at home, but we’re trying to take the best out of it and keep fit.

"It’s obviously not the best solution to kick a ball around in the apartment, because you have neighbours - I’m trying to do everything without the ball at the moment, because it’s more important to be fit physically than technically."

- Henrikh Mkhitaryan

“It’s obviously not the best solution to kick a ball around in the apartment, because you have neighbours and are bothering them sometimes, but I’m trying to do everything without the ball at the moment, because it’s more important to be fit physically than technically.

“Technique comes from your nature; you must have it inside of you. Whenever training begins again, I’ll pay more attention to training with the ball, to give the feeling of the ball to my legs.

“It’s a pity when you’re in good shape, you start playing very well, scoring, assisting, the team is winning games, and then in one moment everything stops. You lose your best shape and don’t know when everything will start again.

"The only thing is to stay positive, stay fit, and do everything that the club has asked you to do.”

Henrikh Mkhitaryan was speaking to The Times (read more here).

GIANLUCA MANCINI

“My daily routine now is to get up, have breakfast, help my wife with a few things around the house – considering before I was never there for that – and then have lunch and begin the fitness programme the club has sent me.

"I’m training because it’s important to maintain our physical fitness, especially considering we can’t be out on the pitch. But the important thing is to stay at home and follow all the instructions given by the government.

“I’m proud of my club. Roma has opened a fundraising campaign for Spallanzani hospital – which players and staff have also donated to, because we all want to play our part. The club is donating vital supplies and equipment – it’s important to be able to help in this terrible moment for the whole country.

"It’s surreal, especially for those in [my old city] Bergamo. I just want to tell them “mola mia” ('never give up', in Bergamasco).

“The other day we had a group videochat with the rest of the team – there were 30 of us. They updated us on everything, gave us new fitness programmes to follow and a new dietary guide. We are not training a lot right now, so the diet is important too.”

Gianluca Mancini was speaking to Sky Sport Italia.

BRYAN CRISTANTE

“We have a group chap where we all send updates about the health of us and our families, but also about the possible restart of the league and of training.

"I think personally my season has gone well so far. I had a serious injury that sidelined me for a long time, but then I got back to fitness. I can’t wait to get back to playing because it will mean this terrible period is over for all of us.

“We started off 2020 badly, but I think that is something that can happen to a young, new squad like ours is. The coach stayed upbeat and backed his ideas, because they had already shown they could bring results, and that helped us to gradually regan confidence and get back on the right track.

"Now we are looking to pick up where we left off. Clearly we can improve, but I think we are on the right path and we look forward to continuing to show our ability again soon.”

Bryan Cristante was speaking to Sky Sport Italia.