Lion Links: 3/26/20

Good morning, Mane Landers. I hope this Thursday finds you all well. I’m still working to figure out this new normal, but let’s go ahead and jump into the links.

City Classics Prep

Orlando City will be airing another “classic” match this weekend. This week it’s the Lions vs the Colorado Rapids from last season. This is the only game I missed last year, and it’s one of the greatest disappointments of my life. Jenny Chiu, Miguel Gallardo, and Evan Weston bring us their favorite memories from that match.

Speaking of City Classic matches, the club wants to hear from you. Vote in their poll to decide with match should be streamed next week.

MLS Extends Training Moratorium

Major League Soccer announced yesterday that it would extend the team training moratorium through April 3.

“Major League Soccer has extended the team training moratorium through, and including, Friday, April 3. MLS training facilities remain closed to all players and staff with the exception of players requiring medical treatment or rehabilitation, under the direction of the team medical staff, that cannot be performed from the safety of their residence,” the statement read.

NWSLPA Announces Player Representatives

The National Women’s Soccer League Players’ Association introduced their 2020 Board of Representatives yesterday. Representing the NWLSPA for the Orlando Pride for this season are Toni Pressley and Bridget Callahan. The representatives will be tasked with helping deal with the postponed NWSL season.

Coronavirus Soccer News

In a bit of much needed good news, Chelsea’s 19-year-old winger, Callum Hudson-Odoi, who tested positive for the virus about two weeks ago, is feeling like himself again.

“We are pleased to report Callum Hudson-Odoi is now feeling fine and back to his usual self following the period of self-isolation required after the player tested positive for COVID-19.

In addition to feeling good, the young winger is hard at work training at home to build and maintain his fitness, as are the rest of the Chelsea squad, the club shared.”

Black & White & Red All Over reached out to some of their readers in Italy for a firsthand look at what’s happening.

Reader Andrea shared, “There is a surreal atmosphere, and the whole country has stopped. The silence is deafening sometimes; I almost miss hearing the traffic noise. I’ve definitely never had such a strange experience in my life. Get ready in the U.S. because staying at home is the only way to get through this virus.”

Meanwhile, Bergamo, at the epicenter of the outbreak, is looking at the Feb. 19 Atalanta vs Valencia match as a “biological bomb,” as one respiratory therapist put it.

“We were mid-February so we didn’t have the circumstances of what was happening,” Bergamo Mayor Giorgio Gori said this week during a live Facebook chat with the Foreign Press Association in Rome. “If it’s true what they’re saying that the virus was already circulating in Europe in January, then it’s very probable that 40,000 Bergamaschi in the stands of San Siro, all together, exchanged the virus between them. As is possible that so many Bergamaschi that night got together in houses, bars to watch the match and did the same. Unfortunately, we couldn’t have known. No one knew the virus was already here.”

And in more COVID-19 news, early reports are suggesting the the National Premier Soccer League will cancel its 2020 season due to the pandemic.

Free Kicks

• Manchester United hopes to keep Paul Pogba.
• Sasho Cirovski, the head coach of the University of Maryland men’s soccer program, is determined to change the college soccer landscape. 
• Just look at these champions!

• Orlando City partner JetBlue is stepping up in a huge way.

• We’re all in this together. Stay home.

• Should the Premier League season be declared void? Rio Ferdinand says yes.

That’ll do it for me this morning, everyone. Have a great day and stay safe!