Tammy Abraham explains why he fears catching coronavirus
Tammy Abraham has revealed the moral dilemma facing Premier League players.
The Chelsea striker admitted he is desperate to get his season up and running again, but watching the news and his own family’s health fears leaves him wondering.
Chelsea players had their own group chat on Thursday about the latest Project Restart plans to resume the season.
And Abraham said: “We are humans. We do have feelings as well. It’s tough. I’m watching Sky News every day, waiting for Boris Johnson to make an announcement.
“We’re following what’s going on in the world and trying to see if it’s safe or not to go back to football. The most important thing is for everyone to stay well and healthy.
“Everyone wants to come back to football. I love football. I was having a great season and I would love it to continue, but when it’s safe to do so.
“The most important thing is to make sure the world is getting better for football to come back. If football can come back in a safe world, then by all means…”
Chelsea players have been training remotely by video link but also having group chats about the prospect of going back.
English football is weeks behind Germany but is facing big decisions in the coming days, with finances and livelihoods at stake.
“We had a chat in a live session about a week ago, about coming back to football, and there were a lot of people for it and a lot of people against.
Tammy Abraham admits asthma-suffering dad has left him fearing Premier League return
“I feel it will always be that way. I just want to be safe and healthy,” he said.
“I don’t feel like it’s rushing. Germany have planned it out well. The coronavirus has not been as big as it’s been in England. I feel they’re going the right way.
“Whatever decisions they make are for a good cause. If they bring back the Premier League then it’s clearly safe enough to do so. If they don’t then it’s clearly not.
“As players, we’ve just got to be patient and keep waiting for the clubs, the Premier League, the Government and everyone to come to an agreement.”
Abraham has admitted his concerns for his dad Anthony – an asthma sufferer – but even that has brought its own mixed feelings.
Government confirm the Premier League can return in June – and call for free-to-air matches.
They have been watching the Netflix documentary series The Last Dance, about Michael Jordan’s final season at the Chicago Bulls, and his dad used that as the reason to return.
He said: “I’ve got his full support for going back. He’s one of my biggest fans.
“My parents are always there, and he spoke to me at breakfast and said: ‘You watched the Jordan thing, I know you’re motivated to go back to football, when you are ready just go out there and do the best you can.’”
Abraham has been keeping fit with a ‘tech table’ playing against his brother Timmy – on loan at Bristol Rovers – as well as enjoying his mum’s cooking as the family are in lockdown.
He has not had the virus but had to self-isolate after Callum Hudson-Odoi tested positive.
But that Netflix series has kept the 22-year-old entertained – and inspired. He added: “It’s incredible, just to see how sportsmen can be so motivated and be so driven to be the best.
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“Michael Jordan was just before my time, so I didn’t get to watch much of him. Watching this just motivates me.
“There’s one thing that caught my mind. He lost a game and made up things in his head of what someone said to him, and found out that person didn’t actually say it! But he used it to go out into the next game, to drive him into being the best.”