Coronavirus changes Chinese Super League team plans as Wuhan Zall return from Spain
- Chinese Super League season, meant to start on February 22, may kick off as soon as April 18 but not all teams back home
- After six weeks in Spain, Wuhan side face another 14-day quarantine period in Shenzhen as virus disrupts preseason
Wuhan Zall, the Chinese Super League side based in the city at the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic, have finally returned to China after 48 days in Spain.
While the team are back in China, in reality they are little closer to their families or the football season, which was initially expected to begin on February 22.
Arguably, the Wuhan side have had the worst preseason preparations possible – and they are set to be prolonged as there is still no confirmation when the league will begin. At least they are closer to home, and seemingly safer from the coronavirus pandemic that is now engulfing Europe.
The team, which finished 6th under Li Tie last season, had travelled to southern Spain in late January for preseason training under new coach Jose Gonzalez. They had been in a training camp in Guangzhou from January 2 with their new coach before planning to head to Spain for warm weather training.
A break for the players, several of whom are Wuhan natives, to spend Lunar New Year with their families before heading to Spain was ditched after the situation in Wuhan became clearer and the 60 million population of Hubei province was put on lockdown.
