How Liverpool's sports psychologist is helping players accept 'new reality' after coronavirus

EXCLUSIVE
David Lynch14 May 2020

Liverpool’s players are being encouraged to establish ‘a level of acceptance’ around the new normal resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, the club’s sports psychologist has revealed.

Jurgen Klopp’s men were on the brink of bringing the Premier League title to Anfield for the first time prior to the spread of Covid-19 forcing the suspension of professional football across Europe in March.

Negotiations over a resumption next month are continuing but, when the sport does eventually return, it will be under vastly different conditions to those in which the season was started.

One major change will see the remainder of the campaign played out behind closed doors - a fact that would put a significant dampener on celebrations of Liverpool’s first title in 30 years.

But Lee Richardson has explained that he is working with the players to help them focus solely on the things they can control during this trying period of inactivity.

Liverpool FC via Getty Images

He told Standard Sport: “I’ve spoken to a few of the players, checking in on them and we’ve sent out a couple of things to all the squad.

“Most sports teams up and down the country, there will be support staff providing resources as much as they can, and Liverpool are no different.

“We’ve got a sports science team who have been doing a great job of keeping the players fit over a very vibrant Whatsapp group!

“And I’ve sent stuff around to the players, just tips around psychological principles around accepting the new reality of where we’re at.

“We’re very keen on establishing a level of acceptance for players that this isn’t going away any time soon and understanding the controllability of the situation.

“So, how much of the situation is in our control - not much of it, as we all find - and the level of uncertainty that we’re all experiencing.

“It’s psychologically challenging for all of us, whether you’re a footballer, journalist, or a psychologist. None of us are immune to that.”

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