Adam Virgo

If I had a choice, I would much rather be playing competitively than sitting at home, following a training schedule and trying to keep match-fit. That’s why I think the 26 Championship players who went to the World Cup will be at a distinct advantage compared to those who didn’t get the call for Qatar.
You can do all the pre-seasons you want, and a lot of clubs have. They’ve gone abroad, held training camps, played friendlies.

But if you aren’t playing proper games, you lose that element of sharpness. I think you’ll see players making a lot more mistakes than they normally woul...