MOT View: Journalist details what is actually going on at Thorp Arch but Leeds players pay price
Some reports have been circulating that claimed Leeds United and Marcelo Bielsa were flouting government guidelines by training at Thorp Arch.
That was roundly denied by LeedsLive journalist Beren Cross who stated that while first-team players have been using the training facilities, they’ve all been observing social distancing.
That means keeping two metres apart from each other.
Cross said that Liam Cooper, Stuart Dallas, Ezgjan Alioski and Gaetano Berardi had all been using the outside running track at Thorp Arch because they were having problems exercising near their homes.
However, in the light of the bad press all these players have now been stopped from going to Thorp Arch.
Adam Forshaw, Leif Davis and Jean-Kevin Augustin have all been getting one-on-one treatment inside as part of their rehab from injury.
It’s not just Leeds who have been the victim of these stories. Jose Mourinho and Tottenham were photographed training at a park last week.
However, we really don’t see the issue here. The Thorp Arch running track is outside and as long as players aren’t running together they’re not flouting any government rules about exercising.
They’re just using facilities the public don’t have access to – which surely makes it even safer for them.
The bad thing is that these players have now been forced to stop because of the reports that could have potentially got Leeds into trouble, which is the last thing they want or need at the moment.
The only price that’s been paid is the general fitness of the players who’ve now got to find somewhere else to run.
However, that could be mitigated as it now looks as if the players could be set for a break, with a possible resumption of group training at Thorp Arch set for May 16.
That’s the latest guide from EFL chairman Rick Parry, with three weeks likely needed from then before matches can be played.
With a much-reduced summer break likely after the 19/20 season, the Leeds players could take a short summer break now.
Hopefully, that means the Thorp Arch ban won’t have too much of a negative effect.
In other Leeds United news, ‘Incredible’ – Insider claims Bielsa was offered job by billionaire owned-club in summer