Jorge Bartual on Chinese measures and working with Benitez

The COVID-19 pandemic began in China at the beginning of the year, and thus the Asian country is several steps ahead in the process than other continents. Jorge Bartual, who played in goal for Valencia CF between 1995 and 2000, has experienced first hand the measures taken in China, as he is currently there as goalkeeping coach for Dalian Yifang FC.

The former VCF player, who works under ex-Valencia CF coach Rafa Benitez, spoke on Saturday to give his impressions of the current circumstances.

China's steady return to normality

"Almost everything is reopening. There is still no date set for the start of the Chinese Super League, which should have got underway in February. There is talk of a May start, and at the moment we are trying to get permission from the embassy to travel. It's getting more and more difficult to move around, because an increasing amount of borders are being closed, but we have our work permits and we believe that we can do it."

"The embassies in Madrid and Barcelona are closed. We are waiting to return to China, but in the meantime we make video calls to plan preseason and the season."

A return to training

"The players have to spend 14 days inside the training ground, each in their own rooms, and from there we can get back to training. On April 2nd or 3rd their isolation will end, and from there they can return to normality."

Severe but effective measures

"One or two weeks after the virus was detected, the Chinese were confined for 1.5 months or 2 months. In Spain we delayed confinement a long time, and that meant that it spread everywhere. It's a completely different culture: They were told that they couldn't go out, and they obeyed completely."

"For two or three weeks, the safest place to be was China. They have overcome it, but they still have strict measures to stop the spread. From what I'm told, there are isolated cases but the majority are foreigners."

Communication with Benítez

"It's a new experience. We have to adapt to what is to come. The coach and staff have to integrate into the culture, try to get to know each other better and then adapt to these circumstances. We have to be professional, like he says, and try to make sure that this affects us as little as possible."

"Rafa contacted me because we had coincided at CD Tenerife and then Valenca CF. He told me about the project, the training ground and the more than 20 pitches that there were in the city. I was liked that, and was excited about the chance to work with Rafa, so I accepted the offer."

"He has the role of manager, like in England, and is responsible for the signings and the methodology to instill. It's difficult, because youth level above all is of a lower quality compared to Spain. The Chinese want to learn and to improve their youth, to have a better future."