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Dortmund managing director plays down Bundesliga risks
Borussia Dortmund managing director Carsten Cramer has played down health concerns as German football prepares to return this weekend.
Officials and fans from all sports alike will turn their attention the way of Germany this weekend, as the Bundesliga becomes the first major football league to host matches following the COVID19 epidemic.
As the Premier League teams continue to debate the best foot-forward following two months of no action, Germany’s relatively controlled infection numbers have enabled the likes of Borussia Dortmund and RP Lepizig to continue their fight in dethroning Bayern Munich for the league title with a host of Bundesliga fixtures given the go-ahead.
With the coronavirus a continued danger regardless of the behind closed doors status of the games, players are still on high alert, what with family and friends still a concern if an infection does arrive.
Not that the current managing director of Dortmund seems too concerned.
Speaking to BBC Sport ahead of this weekend’s football action, Carsten Cramer dismissed the notion that a player infection would be a catastrophe.
“We are relieved football is coming back, The moment they say ‘Dortmund, you have too many positive tests’ we have to make a decision. Right now we have always had negative tests.”
The comments follow the news that three people connected to second division side Cologne have tested positive for the virus. Since the story broke the club have responded by putting the squad and coaching staff in isolation for the required two weeks period.
Not that the rest of the countries professional clubs haven’t taken precautions regardless of infection.
As far every Bundesliga team have been carefully separated from their home life, travelling to and from their respective training grounds from hotels.
Cramer also emphasised the need for clubs to play games due to financial reason.
“A positive test won’t be a catastrophe as long as we have the rules and recommendations for how to get along with it,” he added.
“We are relieved and satisfied we can restart because without a restart not only Dortmund, but the Bundesliga would get in really big problems.”
Whilst the conuation of the Premier League season regarding the biggest clubs seems a foregone conclusion, what with Liverpool’s giant gap at the top of the table, there’s still plenty to play for in the Bundesliga.
Buoyed by the purchase of wonderkid Erling Haland under the noses of Manchester United, Dortmund are hoping for a late season onslaught. Currently the side sit 4 points behind Bayern Munich – with the Bavarians hoping for an eight league title.
The likes of Sandro and co have a fiery Revierderby against fierce rivals Schalke, a must win match if the club is to entertain thoughts of a title winning season.
Equally so, considered to be one of Europe’s most exciting clubs, RB Leipzig are right behind in the league standings and welcome SC Freiburg to the Red Bull Arena.
26TH MATCHDAY – LIVE STREAM
SATURDAY, 16 MAY 2020 (all times are BST)
Borussia Dortmund vs Schalke – 14:30
TSG Hoffenheim vs Hertha Berlin – 14:30
Fortuna Dusseldorf vs Paderborn – 14:30
Augsburg vs Wolfsburg – 14:30
RB Leipzig vs SC Freiburg – 14:30
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Borussia M’gladbach – 17:30
SUNDAY, 17 MAY 2020
Cologne vs Mainz – 14:30
Union Berlin vs Bayern Munich – 17:00
MONDAY, 18 MAY 2020
Werder Bremen vs Bayer Leverkusen – 17:00
