Zola: Football can help us find ourselves again; Football is therapy

Gianfranco Zola believes the return of football ‘can act as a form of therapy’ for society, but says he left England for Italy because they understood the pandemic better.

The former Chelsea star still lives in London, but reveals to the Corriere dello Sport that he flew back to Italy when the COVID-19 pandemic really exploded.

“I settled in England because my family has always felt good there. I returned to Italy at the start of this emergency simply because it seemed as if we had a better idea of how dramatic this moment was. I remain grateful to England for the affection they’ve always shown me there.”

The Bundesliga resumes this afternoon, while Serie A, the Premier League and La Liga continue to debate how to get back on the field safely.

“Football can help us find ourselves again, because it is a sport that dispenses joy. When there is uncertainty, that leads to fear and the risk of an economic collapse, not just in sport. We all have to give our contribution to keep going.

“I do believe football can act as a form of therapy, because it boosts your mood. It’s not just a symbolic show of rebirth, of a return to normality. We missed football, but also had other things to think about. Now things are moving and I don’t know if we’ll see the season come to an end, but I would hope it does. It’d be unjust not to.”