Premier League managers told to keep pre-match meetings brief with players only allowed in...

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Premier League managers have been told to limit pre-match meetings to 15 minutes when the season restarts, while players will be allowed into the dressing rooms in shifts as part of social-distancing measures. Protocols around the changing areas has been one of the biggest issues for match preparations for Project Restart along with travelling to fixtures, with squads advised to travel on the day of games. Telegraph Sport revealed last week that teams are set to use different parts of the stadium - including corporate boxes - for players to get changed before playing. And getting the entire squad together for final instructions from the manager will be monitored to ensure the potential spread of coronavirus is minimal. Proposals, which have to be ratified, include ensuring squads are not all congregating together in dressing rooms for more than 15 minutes at a time. Should they need to enter the dressing room for treatment or personal instructions, it would be on a shift basis to maintain social distancing. Newer stadiums in the Premier League have changing areas designed more like the NFL locker rooms in America, which allow players the space needed to respect social distancing. Norwich and Aston Villa are among the tighter dressing rooms where other facilities may be needed for squads to prepare. Travel is also causing a huge headache for clubs looking at how to get to away fixtures. Hotels have not been open during the UK’s lockdown, with teams encouraged to travel on the day of matches. It means the routine of a pre-match meal for squads, usually at the team hotel, will need altering, particularly if players face a long journey on the morning of their fixture. On the day the Premier League is scheduled to resume, Arsenal face a trip to Manchester to face City, and on the first weekend United make the journey down to London to face Tottenham. Club staff have also voiced concerns about the quick turnaround as players need to warm-down and refuel after a match, before travelling back home and preparing for their next match. Arranging friendlies has already shown how difficult it will be to stage games. Clubs want to play non-competitive matches at training grounds to improve fitness and increase intensity before the season restarts. They have been limited to opposition they will not be facing in their remaining Premier League games and also within a 90-minute journey, which may see requests for special dispensation for clubs without top-flight clubs near them. Playing clubs in the Championship raises problems as the two divisions are at different stages of their preparations and have different Covid-19 testing.

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