Giroud: Chelsea players suffered on return to training

Chelsea’s Striker Olivier Giroud said Chelsea players suffered on their return to training in Cobham on May 19.

Giroud admitted to Uefa.com about the pains the players had when training: We resumed training [on Tuesday 19 May]. It really feels good to be back on the pitch, to get to see team-mates again and to simply be playing football. I’d really missed it.

"It’s very unusual, as we work in groups of five. We need to maintain a two-metre minimum social distance between each other, meaning no contact.

"We’re tested [for Covid-19] twice a week. We can’t access the changing room. We can’t shower either, meaning you have to get changed before stepping into your car in order to keep it clean. It’s very hot at the moment too – I’m not complaining about that, but it means we sweat a lot!

"During lockdown, Chelsea would send us programmes to follow to keep fit. We had exercises to do every day. I’m lucky enough to live right next to a great park and I went there to run almost every day.

"Towards the end of this period, the whole team video-called and we did circuit training. I did it at home in the playroom alongside my children. I took a picture of us – it was nice. However, nothing replaces being on the pitch. Almost all my team-mates got blisters after resuming training."