Zabaleta says his last game in EPL may be in empty stadiums

West Ham United defender Pablo Zabaleta has said the COVID-19 pandemic may mean he will not have the chance to play in front of supporters again before he ends his Premier League career.

Soccer in England has been suspended indefinitely because of the flu-like coronavirus which has caused more than 20,000 deaths in Britain, with games likely to be held without fans present once the season resumes.

Argentine Zabaleta, 35, is in his final season at the east London club after signing a contract extension last year.

“I was coming to the end of my career and it was my last season in England, and I wanted to finish in a different way, playing in front of the fans, having those emotions and that adrenaline,” Zabaleta told West Ham’s website here

“I know this but I will find myself maybe playing in empty stadiums and with different emotions, but that’s something I cannot manage myself.”

Zabaleta won two Premier League titles, two League Cups and the FA Cup with Manchester City before joining West Ham in 2017.

“The Premier League and all the countries I’m sure will try to restart the league, but nothing will be the same,” Zabaleta, who has made 10 league appearances this season, added.

The defender said the virus would change our life style. “I need to accept it ... Mentally it’s tough but as I say, all I’m trying to do is stay positive.”

West Ham are 16th in the table with 27 points from 29 games.

Zabaleta initially moved to Barcelona in 2005, when he joined Espanyol, going on to win the Copa Del Rey and reach the UEFA Cup final, and he plans to settle in the city when he retires at the end of this season.

The 35-year-old loves Spain, which has been hit harder than most countries with 224,000 cases and more than 23,000 deaths caused by coronavirus, and has seen the devastating effect of the disease first-hand.

“It’s been hit very hard and in Spain has been complete lockdown,” he confirmed.

“My family’s been here [in Barcelona] for this season for nine months, and obviously when this situation became very bad and my missus was only in the apartment with my two kids and she needed a little bit of help, that’s why I spoke to the gaffer [David Moyes] and I asked permission to come to Spain to stay with them and be close to my family in this moment. Always, of course, in situations like this family always comes first, and the boss understood the situation and was very good on giving me permission to come and stay here.

Agencies