Ben: “The camaraderie - we all take it for granted”

Ben Davies and Toby Alderweireld have both relished training as a group again this week – albeit remotely as we all continue to fight the coronavirus.

The players have been brought together by the latest technology and are therefore able to tune in to training sessions run by Jose Mourinho and his coaching staff.

Football remains postponed, with Premier League guidelines stating that the 2019/20 season will only return when it is safe and appropriate to do so. In the meantime, Ben, Toby and the rest of the squad are following Club guidelines on staying fit and government messaging on tackling COVID-19 – stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives.

Ben said: “I’ve been doing my own work but now we’re doing it as a group and it’s nice, you feel you are with the lads, all back together and you know what, it’s hard work!

“It’s not easy in these circumstances but it just shows we have a team full of proper professionals that will work, even if they are on their own.

“You see everyone every day and it becomes the norm. At the moment, not being involved in that camaraderie, you feel you really do take it for granted. You feel like something is missing and that’s why it’s good to get on the video calls, to see the lads, have a laugh together, it’s all good.”

Toby added: “We’re doing the best we can with the boundaries we have and this way, you’re still alone, but you are part of a team. If you train together, maybe you do a little more than by yourself, so it’s nice to do it together and of course, we have to keep going, to keep fit because you never know when we’ll be needed to play again. We have to be ready for that moment.”