Lazio athletic trainer Fabio Ripert discussed the Coronavirus emergency and the Biancocelesti’s return to training in an interview in today’s paper edition of the Rome based newspaper Corriere dello Sport.
First, Ripert discussed the players’ conditions whilst under lockdown in their homes.
“The team has been training from March 1st to 7th, then home training was arranged. Muscle tone is not lost, it can be maintained at a good level. You can lose acceleration, the ability to decelerate, elasticity in changes of direction. But muscles have memory.”
The trainer revealed what work he was underdoing for the players.
“I’m studying spaced athletic training to do those exercises that are conditioned at home.”
He discussed the differences between training at home and training at Formello, the Roman sides home base.
“The treadmill or any other home appliance does not allow to replicate the muscle reactivity that is stimulated on the field, to reproduce the changes of direction, the effect of the training match, there is a lack of specific gestures, stretching over 30-40 meters, the achievement of a speed above 25 kilometers per hour. A general maintenance work can be carried out. These are jobs that give results to avoid weight gain and help on a psychological level.”
Ripert highlighted how the players would be ready if the league restarted in May, considering the long stop.
“At the beginning of March, the stop sign was calculated as a stop for the national teams, then things changed. The objective, waiting for the dates, is to keep fit until the fateful day. It would be a bit like organizing the summer pre-season, even if slightly stretched. Last year for us the season ended on May 26th, the recovery took place on July 9th, after 44 days of stop. If you stop for more than two months the ratings will change, it has never happened.”
Finally, Ripert detailed how an April restart would be too soon for the players, even though it is incredibly unlikely to happen.
“In general, in 2-3 weeks, the body is able to readjust itself, to ‘calibrate’ again, and in 4-5 weeks you can reach good levels of preparation.”
Lazio president Claudio Lotito is one of the few club presidents pushing for a return to training soon, despite the risks associated with squad training. The AIC, as well as most other clubs in the league, do not agree with his decision.
