Uefa is trying to run European competitions in a situation comparable with no other.
The Champions League and Europa League qualifying rounds, reduced to one-legged ties this year amid the coronavirus pandemic, arguably requires the greatest amount of travel from a sizeable number of human cargo.
Aberdeen are one of four Scottish teams experiencing the protocols and restrictions required to get a game of football played. They travelled to Norway last week to face Viking FK, where currently quarantine is mandatory for UK visitors, but were tested before and after arrival to allow them to compete safely.
They fly out to Lisbon this morning for a game that, as yet, might not take place, owing to the surge in infections in Portugal and the Sporting CP squad. The Dons are at the mercy of an invisible obstacle.
“Always before a European game you’d have a site visit from your ops team, visit the stadium and view hotels, choose one for the team, journalists and supporters if they travel with the team,” said Duncan Fraser, who left his role as Aberdeen’s chief executive earlier this summer to become a Uefa mentor.
“It’s almost impossible to do that now. You’ll have a travel representative, and Aberdeen have someone with vast experience, who has someone based in or close to all the venues. You’ll be relying on those external people more than ever. All of that will be done right at a club like Aberdeen, because they’re so professional with the way they go about it.
“For less experienced clubs it is a huge effort. You really need the home team to be on top of things and to support wherever possible inexperienced away clubs travelling. Great cooperation between the clubs is vital at all times, now more than ever.
“What you’re trying to get across to the away team is it’s not the local team (making the decision) it’s the national government that are saying this is how we do it. Uefa have been doing all they can to support clubs but ultimately it comes down to local and national laws.”
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes will leave no stone unturned in preparation, according to Duncan FraserThe situation is fluid. Countries are at different stages of dealing with the virus and have handled it in contrasting ways. The UK is seeing a new raft of measures this week to combat a second wave. To try get uniform procedure across the board, from a Uefa perspective, is problematic.
“It’s constant, week-to-week,” said Fraser. “None of the ties for the play-offs will be decided until after Thursday’s games. Getting Uefa personnel to games via scheduled flights is time-consuming and late changes are sometimes unavoidable as flights are cancelled and testing results in unexpected positive outcomes.
“At least, if the Dons get through, they’ll have a home tie. In these circumstances being at home is far easier. The cost is irrelevant; it’s just the fact that logistically it’s far easier to be at home.
“I met the Uefa delegate, by chance last week, who was at Pittodrie for the Dons’ tie with Faroese side NSI Runavik last month and he was full of praise for the Pittodrie setup. I believe it was his first game so I pointed out he won’t get an easier place to be a delegate.”
With six years of European campaigns under Derek McInnes, nothing will be left to chance. Director of football operations Steven Gunn and security officer Willie Beattie and the rest of the backroom team will be integral to the preparations put into place ahead of an away European game. For home games Paul Hendry as operations manager will come into that key group.
The situation at Sporting CP has complicated matters significantly. An outbreak within their squad, which has affected nine players and three staff and seen the team relocate to the Algarve to preserve a sporting bubble, has put the game in question.
A decision on whether the tie will go ahead will not be taken until the day of the game, with representatives from Uefa acquiescing to the decisions made by the regional health authorities or government. Such an instance occurred in the first qualifying round, with Slovan Bratislava forfeiting their tie with KI Klaksvik after a significant number of their squad tested positive for Covid-19 upon arrival in the Faroe Islands.
“Aberdeen will do it professionally,” added Fraser. “They’ll go over, prepare for the game, the plane will be on the ground throughout their time in Lisbon and they will react professionally to any circumstances that arise. Nothing is left to chance. But clearly it’s not ideal.
“It’s just that degree of uncertainty as to what sort of team they’ll put out. But whatever team they’ll put out will be strong. Sporting are a massive club, so it’s a fantastic opportunity for the players.
“Aberdeen will be as well-prepared as they can be. Derek’s attitude will be the game is going on. There will be no deviation and they will be 100 per cent focused on the game both football and operations-wise.”