Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterFootballers will sometimes look to towering figures from other sports for inspiration when times are tough.Well, there aren't many bigger icons than basketball legend Michael Jordan - and there haven't been many times tougher to be a footballer than during the covid pandemic.But along with the rest of their Championship counterparts, Fulham had to find a way to keep going in their bid for promotion when the 2019/20 season resumed after a three-month hiatus, culminating in 2-1 extra-time victory over local rivals Brentford at an empty Wembley.Tom Cairney was Fulham's captain on that strange day - and he admits that he needed a bit of geeing up to get back in the swing of things after the interruption.Cairney told FourFourTwo: Beating Leeds at home in the week before Christmas felt like a big moment, but then the world stopped because of Covid. You may like Troy Deeney on coming back from the brink Dimitar Berbatov opens up on his career as a cult hero Matt Grimes explains why playing for Frank Lampard was a 'massive compliment' "Ours was the first game to be called off, as we were due to play Brentford on the Friday night. That period was horrendous.But the Michael Jordan documentary The Last Dance came out around that time we all watched it and everyone took inspiration from seeing the way that he trained.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over."It motivated me to get my bum off the sofa, stop eating crisps and go for a jog then when we came back, Scott Parker showed clips from it, even before the play-off final.We played that final in front of an empty Wembley. I felt so sorry for all the Fulham supporters because they should have had their second day out there in two years, and it was against Brentford."I feel sorry for Joe Bryan too he scored both our goals that day and hes a hero to me, but he deserved to have the fans there and the opportunity to celebrate with them.We werent actually the favourites for it."Brentford had Ollie Watkins, Said Benrahma and Bryan Mbeumo up front, as well as Rico Henry, Mathias Jensen and David Raya in their starting line-up."They were a really strong team and had beaten us just a few weeks before, in the first game after the Covid break."TOPICSTom CairneyFulhamSteven ChickenSocial Links NavigationSteven Chicken has been working as a football writer since 2009, taking in stints with Football365 and the Huddersfield Examiner. Steven still covers Huddersfield Town home and away for his own publication,WeAreTerriers.com. Steven is a two-time nominee for Regional Journalist of the Year at the prestigious British Sports Journalism Awards, making the shortlist in 2020 and 2023.
