Garry Monk says we may have to accept 'strange' behind-closed-doors game for some time

If the Football League succeed in completing the 2019-20 season, matches will be played without spectators to comply with Government rules to combat the spread of coronavirus. But clubs have been told not to expect to be playing in front of them again until next year.

Watching the resumption of Germany's Bundesliga, Monk admitted it made for “strange” viewing, but he is keen to get playing again and cannot see any other way.

"It is not ideal and it is not what we want,” he admitted. "But it seems to be, not just for these nine games, that it might be a necessity moving forwards.

"I just think that is the reality of the world that we are going to live in for the foreseeable future.

"I think we all know that without the fans in the stadium it is nowhere near as good.

"It is not what you live for but it is what it is. It is the unknown. We don't know how long this is going to last.

"It is very clear fans need to be in football stadiums but football also needs to continue, like life needs to continue.

"I think that is the steps that they are trying to take now and we will see where that takes us, really.”

Monk said the first post-coronavirus round of Bundesliga matches felt more like reserve-team football than a top-level European league.

“I've watched a couple of the games and they're what you expect,” he said. “Atmosphere-wise, without the fans there, of course it's going to be completely different. It's been strange watching but I've watched plenty of games like that. It kind of reminds you of an under-23 game at Hillsborough and there are probably more people then that at these (Bundesliga) games.

“It's a big empty stadium and of course it's going to be different but I guess it's the necessity of these leagues needing to finish. That's what it's going to be and possibly for quite a bit of time.”

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