‘I missed everything about football’ – Massengo

In part one, Massengo spoke of his tough, lockdown training regime as he looks to develop his physicality, to improve himself on the pitch and be ready for when competitive football is deemed safe to resume.

Massengo was back on the pitch at City’s Failand training base from Monday, with the club adhering to new safety measures and protocols in line with new EFL regulations.

Looking back on the week, the 18-year-old said: “That first session was tough but we have worked on small details and in small groups. Working with three of four others allows us to work on specific things you might not do much otherwise.

“It’s different but good, so it’s been great. The sessions haven’t been long, up to an hour but they are still intense. There is running and then we go home with a strength session via Zoom in the afternoon which is good too.

“I missed everything about football, the pitch and my teammates, the fans of course but I was always trying to look at things positively and focus on my weaknesses.

“We all missed the game and even on TV it was hard to know what to watch, especially with no live football! I really missed the game.”

With UEFA Champions League experience and a regular in his first season in the Sky Bet Championship, it’s easy to forget that Massengo is still a teenager. He’s a player with maturity beyond his years and he has a willingness to never rest on his laurel, as he seeks to improve himself further.

“It’s hard to say if I have done well,” he said, reflecting on his first season with City. “Some parts have been great and I still need to improve and that I can do better. It has been a good season so far but I just want to play these next nine games and so what can happen to us.

“My first game (v QPR) at Ashton Gate stands out for me. When I came on for 45 minutes, I already had my song and for me that was crazy! I never thought about having a song so that was great and I am very proud.

“I knew the Championship was going to be hard but you never know exactly what it is going to be like until you join. I didn’t know it was going to be as hard as it was but I was happy to come here. I saw it as a challenge.” 

Players are now allowed to train at Failand, where the following measures are in place:

• Players and staff attending training at Failand will be subject to an ongoing EFL designated COVID-19 testing programme
• Players and staff will submit a health questionnaire and temperature reading remotely every morning before being permitted to travel to the training ground
• Staggered arrival times to ensure social distancing
• Designated and appropriately distanced parking spaces
• A maximum of five players and a coach will be allowed to train on the same pitch at the same time, leaving the greatest distance as possible between them, which will be at least two metres
• A one-way system to walk to and from the car park to training pitches
• All players and staff using an alcohol-based hand sanitiser upon entering and leaving the training ground
• Players and staff arriving in training kit and washing kit themselves at home each day
• Any balls and equipment used being disinfected before the next player takes to the training pitch
• Players and staff brining their own water bottles and supplement drinks to each session
• Any injuries assessed without being touched and players sent home for further isolated treatment
• Players returning to their respective cars immediately after their individual session has completed and head straight home, with no car sharing