Despite coronavirus concerns, Inter Milan president Steven Zhang confident Serie A season will be completed

(CNN)As recently evidenced by Inter Milan's eerie Europa League clash against Ludogorets in an empty San Siro, sport without fans is no spectacle at all -- but it could become the new normal in Italy over the next few months as the country grapples with the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Inter president Steven Zhang says he is confident the Serie A season can be finished, even if it means playing matches behind closed doors.

Italy is battling Europe's largest outbreak of the virus with more than 3,800 cases and almost 150 deaths, leading Italian authorities to cancel several top-flight matches, including Inter's top-of-the-table clash against Juventus which was called off last weekend.

"Public health is the most important thing," Zhang told CNN's Alex Thomas at the FT Business of Football Summit in London. "That's why I think in order to make sure everyone is on the same page, everyone is taking the necessary action, protecting the ones around them.

"Obviously with the fans in the stadium, the matches will be more exciting. It's part of the experience of football. However, as we said many times, as a football organization, as a sport, or sport organization it will have big impact in society, its important that we always put safety and public health first.

Inter president Steven Zhang on the club's bid for the Scudetto 01:59

"From experience, we must see China which is acting successfully reducing the crowds, reducing condensed areas, having less people moving in these areas will help the spreading of virus significantly.

"So in order to continue on the (Serie A) calendar, continue on the matches, but at the same time making sure safety is being touched by everybody in the country and society, I think this (behind closed doors) is a good solution for all of us."

References:
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/06/football/inter-milan-steven-zhang-coronavirus-serie-a-spt-intl/index.html