MLS players feel safe in 'bubble' ahead of soccer tournament

VIDEO SHOWS: SOUNDBITES FROM ORLANDO CITY SC MIDFIELDER NANI, INTER MIAMI CF GOALKEEPER LUIS ROBLES, AND INTER MIAMI MIDFIELDER RODOLFO PIZARRO ON SAFETY AND PROTOCOLS IN "BUBBLE" AHEAD OF START OF TOURNAMENT / NEW YORK RED BULLS TEAM TRAINING SESSION

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: ORLANDO, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES (JULY 7, 2020) (MLS - MUST COURTESY MLS)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ORLANDO CITY SC MIDFIELDER, NANI, SAYING:

"To be honest, I feel safe here since I've arrived at the hotel. I see all the conditions. The way they manage everything for the players to be safe, I agree with. Until now, all the teams and players I've seen look happy, they look comfortable with all these protocols. Obviously, there was some stories about some players who got the virus, but I think these players came to the hotel already with the virus. So, I don't think that should worry those who were already here. And all these situations have been managed very well. I'm positive about the tournament and the bubble here at Disney and I hope it will continue like that until the end of this tournament. Because we are already here, we want to have this tournament, we went it to go well and I want everyone to be safe and everyone to go back home safe and happy."

2. (MUTE) PLAYERS FROM THE NEW YORK RED BULLS SQUAD MAKING THEIR WAY TO A TEAM TRAINING SESSION

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) INTER MIAMI CF GOALKEEPER, LUIS ROBLES, SAYING:

"I've felt relatively safe (since arriving to Orlando). I know there are some circumstances that are going on right now that are so beyond my control, but the thing that our team continues to reiterate is that we have to at least honour the protocol, but we also have to practice good habits. That means we wear our masks as much as we can. The only time that we don't wear it is in our rooms or when we're at the meal room eating as a team, or of course, on the training field. So, I guess the message that I would say to whoever does this next is that those protocols are there for a reason. And as long as you continue to stress the importance of it and put the responsibility on individuals and those individuals abide by it, I think you increase your chances of creating the safest environment possible. So, it doesn't matter how many people you have, if you're able to maintain your distance and you where your mask and the testing is all there to make sure you contain situations, I think you at least put yourself in a position to feel safe."

4. (MUTE) VARIOUS OF NEW YORK RED BULLS TRAINING SESSION

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) INTER MIAMI MIDFIELDER, RODOLFO PIZARRO, SAYING:

"Truthfully, me personally, I feel safe. I think MLS has taken all the adequate measures to make sure we can feel that way. And yes, me personally and I think the entire team feels safe. I think if we don't get together with other players or teams we are not at risk of catching it if you take the necessary measures."

6. (MUTE) PLAYERS FROM THE NEW YORK RED BULLS TRAINING IN A RONDO

7. (MUTE) ANOTHER RONDO

8. (MUTE) NEW YORK RED BULLS RIGHT WINGER, FLORIAN VALOT (22) AND TEAM MATES RUNNING SPRINTS

9. (MUTE) PLAYERS DRILLING OVER A SMALL NET, SIMILAR TO A TENNIS NET

STORY: Even as setbacks continue to hamper Major League Soccer's attempt to restart its COVID-19-hit season, several players on Tuesday (July 7) said they feel safe in the "bubble" set up at Disney's Orlando park where the league is hosting a comeback tournament.

Billed as the MLS Is Back Tournament, the month-long event will be played in a Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex and is set to kick off on Wednesday (July 8) without fans.

Orlando City midfielder Nani as well as goalkeeper Luis Robles and midfielder Rodolfo Pizarro of Inter Miami all said they felt secure since arriving to the Disney grounds and that they trusted in the protocols MLS has implemented to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Even as some squads held training sessions here on Tuesday, the Vancouver Whitecaps announced five members of their squad will not make the trip to Orlando for the tournament for different reasons related to the virus.

All 26 MLS clubs were set to take part until FC Dallas were withdrawn on Monday (July 6) after 10 players and a staff member tested positive for the coronavirus.

Nashville SC could be the next to be withdrawn as MLS postponed their first game and are evaluating the club's participation after five players tested positive and four more require further testing.

Earlier the league lost one of its star attractions and reigning most valuable player when Los Angeles FC's Mexican forward Carlos Vela opted to stay home, citing his wife's "risky pregnancy."

The tournament will have group stage matches that count in the regular season standings while the winner will earn a spot in the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League.

Following the tournament, MLS plans to continue its regular season with a revised schedule of home and away games, followed by the playoffs and the 25th MLS Cup.

(Production: Kurt Michael Hall)