Dutch midfielder Jackie Groenen is used to living away from home and, since playing in the first team at age 17, has played open-air league football, but only now, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, is it when she is playing in some other country by removing her from her friends and family.
Currently at Manchester United Women, Groenen has never formed a Dutch team and has yet to play a few steps from his birthplace in Tilburg. However, existing COVID-19 protocols mean that even when Groenen returned to Holland last month to form his national team, he could not see his parents.
“We’re in a bubble here and when we get home, we’re also in a bubble, which doesn’t leave much room to see your circle of family and friends,” he tells me. “It was more complicated than usual”. because I have a lot of dads. They themselves come every weekend to watch all the matches. So for me it’s another one and it’s harder than ever. It’s anything we have, to deal with right now but not “If I could do it any other way, I would. I just hope the stage is replaced very temporarily so I can see my enthusiasts and my circle of relatives. “
Groenen, one of seven non-British players on Manchester United’s 26-man squad lately, admits that the team has become his full social circle at this point. “They are counting on the others at the moment. They are my social contacts, which were already evident, but usually you have a little more life next to you. I think it is a complicated situation, especially for foreign players anywhere in England or where you are “.
Is being with the same people, living and breathing the game all the time suffocating?”Sometimes that’s the case,” Groenen admits, especially in the preseason, when you didn’t have the games to look forward all the time, it made things a little more complicated than usual, but now, when we have the game on Sunday, it’s a little different. paintings your way up Sunday and then everything is fine!”
The last foreign players to sign for Manchester United were two-time World Cup champions Tobin Heath and Christen Press. After two weeks in quarantine, the players signed up for the first team after the foreign hiatus in September. “It was wonderful to have them with the team,” Groenen said. “They are obviously very experienced players, players with a lot of trophies in the bag. “
Last summer, Groenen had been the signing of Manchester United’s wonderful call and appreciates the two new recruits being the attention of fans, the media and other players. “Yes, it is clear that many women appreciate them, I suppose that is normal. They have had a very intelligent influence, I think, in the organization so far, they are satisfied people, wonderful people. “
In last year’s World Cup final, Heath and Press played 2-0 in the United States over Holland in Groenen, however, admits that “we don’t communicate about the World Cup final unless it’s for an occasional joke or something. “
On Sunday, Heath and Press emerged as second-half substitutes in a 3-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion, which allowed Manchester United to be part of the first rhythms of fa WSL. Heath provided a hand for Manchester United and Press’ third goal. Groenen didn’t make fun of his new teammate about the flaw, “He’d make a joke about the World Cup final if he did that!”
It was revealed that Sales of Manchester United jerseys with the names Heath and Press on their backs have outperformed those of all male players in their first three days. “It’s wonderful,” said technician Casey Stoney. We have little women with ‘Heath’ and ‘Press’ on their backs, not potentially ‘Rashford’ or ‘Martial’ and even young children. For me, it’s wonderful for the game, it’s a smart income. We need to make sure the winnings return to the club as well so that we can reinvest in the resources, the players. just be positive for me. “
One source of profit that has been blocked in the foreseeable long term is revenue from price tickets, with all counterattack gains taking closed-door positions as the UK tries to lessen the increase in concern in COVID-19 infection rates. of more than 2,000 viewers in the last two seasons, Manchester United’s home following is among the vital highs in the English women’s setting and Groenen realizes how much it hurts them not to be able to see the team from the stands. To stay connected as long as we can. This is not a simple scenario for any of us. It’s hard to play without the fans, you miss the environment and we miss them, but I think we’re doing everything we can to get them involved and make sure they’re part of what we do here. I can’t wait for the day everyone comes back. It’s going to be a smart day!”
Tomorrow, Manchester United begin their Continental Cup crusade with an organization-level match outside Liverpool. The exceptionally scheduled setting for a kick-off in the early afternoon. Stoney admits that he accepted the replacement, as he will help his team prepare for next weekend’s league match at Tottenham Hotspur, which was postponed from Sunday to Saturday at noon.
“Starting at 2 gives us more recovery time for players. I agreed, but we were very willing to have him at MUTV if it were at the time. Fans can have visibility. “
“The visibility of the game is huge right now. I don’t think we’re making the game as visual as it can be. We do not broadcast enough women’s matches in BT Sport or in us, as we are allowed as a club. show it in MUTV. We are only allowed to broadcast 3 matches according to the season. Now it’s absurd to me the moment the match has to be visual, so why not give us consistent authorization to show all the matches?The game is in danger by wasting the fan base it has while we don’t know and need to expand it. It’s on TV, which is great. Selfishly, I took the kick-off at 2pm because it meant we had more recovery time. “
After traveling the world watching football for 20 years, attending matches in more than 80 cities in about 40 countries, I have covered the Men’s and Women’s World Cups and
After traveling the world watching football for 20 years, attending matches in more than 80 cities in about 40 countries, I covered men’s and women’s World Cups and European Championships as a journalist. I also write for The Morning Star and the anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out I graduated from the University of Manchester with a law degree.