Chelsea loanee Davide Zappacosta breaks silence over how he was infected with Covid-19 at Serie A club

Davide Zappacosta reveals how he caught Covid and insists the Genoa outbreak could have happened to any other team.

“It all begun with Mattia Perin who had tested negative the day before he had symptoms,” the Chelsea loanee told L’Equipe.

“He was sent to isolation as soon as he tested negative but by that time, he had already contaminated someone in the dressing room.

“That’s how it all begun. The following swabs we had afterwards all came back negative even if some of us, me included, had already contracted the virus.”

Perin and Lasse Schone were the first Genoa players to test positive and didn’t travel to Napoli where Genoa faced a heavy 6-0 defeat.

“We had no choice, we had to go to Napoli because the game had been confirmed,” continued Zappacosta.

“The build-up to the game was complicated. We had swabs at 1am the night before the game and we took the plane in the morning. I didn’t sleep well and I didn’t feel good although I had no fever. The game was tough also because Napoli are a stronger side.”

Genoa have now 22 confirmed cases of Covid in the team, 17 of whom are footballers: “We used to have swabs every three days and an antibody blood test once a week. Trouble is, you can be negative on Monday, do the test and Tuesday and find out you are positive on Thursday. In the meantime, you have spent three days with the rest of the team.

“Swabs are not as accurate. It could have happened to any other team. It happened with Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Milan but he didn’t contaminate anyone. Maybe Perin’s viral load was higher.”

Azpilicueta helps Thiago Silva over communication problems, reacts to stiff competition from Reece James

Cesar Azpilicueta has sought to help Thiago Silva overcome communication problem he is facing at Chelsea, as the Blues skipper reveals that French and Portuguese-speaking team-mates are helping the Brazilian defender to settle into the fold at Stamford Bridge.

One of several summer recruits at Stamford Bridge has arrived in west London with little English of which to speak.

That was considered to be an issue when the Brazilian saw his Premier League debut marred by a costly error in a disappointing display from Frank Lampard’s side at West Brom.

He has since responded to that showing by catching the eye in a 4-0 win over Crystal Palace, with each passing performance helping him to feel a little more settled in new surroundings, report Goal.

Azpilicueta is among those looking to make that process as seamless as possible, with the Spanish full-back having no concerns when it comes to Chelsea’s defensive line getting their message across.

He told the Blues’ official website: “Yes it’s true, we were communicating in French.

“I speak French, as does Thiago, and obviously Kurt [Zouma] does as well. It was a good way for us to talk at the back. Edu [Mendy] in goal speaks French too, so it was the best way for us.

“We try to help out as much as possible with the players that don’t speak English at the moment and it is no problem for us. Thiago also speaks the same language as Jorginho, so he can communicate with him too.

“I think language is secondary though. Football is a universal game and for people like Thiago, he’s been around the game for a long time and can lead others even without speaking the language so well.

“We want to make the adaptation as easy as possible for the new players and if we have to speak French in defence until the guys understand English, then that is fine.”

While looking to help out others, Azpilicueta faces challenges of his own.

The long-serving 31-year-old now faces competition for a right-back berth from academy graduate Reece James, with a talented 20-year-old showing that he can be the present and future for the Blues.

“The competition with Reece is very strong,” said Azpilicueta.

“As I have said before, this is Chelsea and you have to fight for your place in the team along with many other good players. This has been the same since I arrived here in 2012.

“Reece is a fantastic boy, he’s a huge talent and he has lots of quality. I’m happy to try to help him and the team wherever I can.

“It’s a huge challenge every day to work hard, prove yourself and fight for your place in the team. I want to play as much as possible, that is my target, but of course I want to help the team first and foremost.

“Of course, every player wants to play every single game but we have to respect the decision of the manager and just know that everyone in the squad will have their chance through the season. I didn’t start the first few Premier League games, but I came on against West Brom and then played against Crystal Palace.

“When you get your chance, you have to take it and make it difficult for the manager to leave you out. I think having that strong competition that we have here is key and is what is needed for the club to improve and develop.”

Real Madrid star Luka Modric says Eden Hazard is “not in a comfortable situation”

Luka Modric has revealed Eden Hazard is ‘not in a comfortable situation’ as injuries continue to ravage the ex-Chelsea star’s dream Real Madrid career.

Hazard, 29, is enduring a torrid run in Madrid, and is yet to make an appearance this season, with doubts now over whether he’ll fit for El Clasico later this month.

The Belgium international was ready to return from an ankle problem, but suffered a muscle injury that saw him miss Wednesday’s 1-0 La Liga victory over Real Valladolid.

Modric told As.com: “It is not a comfortable situation.

“He has come to show that he is one of the best and he will show it this year.

“When he was well he showed that he was going to be important, but the injuries stopped him.

“We need him and he will show why Madrid has paid so much for him.”

Former Tottenham boss reveals how Spurs came close to signing Eden Hazard

Harry Redknapp has revealed Tottenham came close to signing ex-Chelsea star Eden Hazard in 2012.

The Belgian wizard joined the Blues from French side Lille in 2012 but Redknapp claims Spurs were pipped to the post by their London rivals.

He told Sky Sports: “I lost Eden Hazard, he wanted to come to Tottenham but he said he would only come if we got Champions League Football.

“We finished fourth that year, Chelsea finished sixth, they won the Champions League & we didn’t make it.

“He ended up going to Chelsea.”