Former New York Red Bulls star Tyler Adams was in the midst of a breakout campaign for Bundesliga side RB Leipizig when the soccer world was put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic, becoming a key contributor for a club that found itself just five points behind frontrunners Bayern Munich with nine matches to go.
Now, Adams finds himself among some of the first athletes to slowly ramp up training, as Germany gradually eases restrictions, with Leipzig one of the teams that are organizing small-group training sessions. Adams discussed the type of training he's been able to do in an interview with The Washington Post's Steven Goff, relaying that he's been going through sessions that include three teammates and an assistant coach.
"It's a little bit tricky because you can only do certain passing drills, you can do dribbling, you can do running and fitness and finishing," Adams told Goff. "You have all the individual variables of what it's like to be playing in a game, but it's never going to be an 11-versus-11 right now. That's the thing that hurts as a player because you want to go out and train with your teammates: you want to have the duels and find ways to get better.
"I do feel safe," he added. "The way Germany has handled it has been not only very efficient, but people are following the rules. If people are out, they are wearing masks and gloves and doing the little things that are supposed to help. It's a new situation for so many people. Being able to go out and play would be a great feeling, but only want to do so when it keeps everybody safe -- all the players, all the staff involved in running games and, of course, the fans. If we continue to play with no spectators and that keeps them safe, we would be glad to do that."
While it's obviously not the same as being able to train with his full compliment of teammates, Adams said it has been nice simply to be back on the field, even in this limited fashion.
"It's just a good feeling to have the ball at your feet, have teammates you are able to see," he said.
Check out Goff's full story on Adams HERE.
