Spurs still expect to face COVID-hit Villa: Mourinho

Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho is hopeful that his side can face Aston Villa in the Premier League on Wednesday despite Villa's depleted squad.

Published : Jan 11, 2021 09:51 IST

Spurs have already had a league game against Fulham postponed due to COVID-19.
Spurs have already had a league game against Fulham postponed due to COVID-19.
lightbox-info

Spurs have already had a league game against Fulham postponed due to COVID-19.

Tottenham Hotspur is preparing for its Premier League game at Aston Villa to go ahead on Wednesday despite its opponent being hit by a COVID-19 outbreak, manager Jose Mourinho said.

Villa had to field academy players in its 4-1 FA Cup third-round loss to Liverpool last Friday after nine first team players and five staff members tested positive for the virus.

Asked by reporters when Tottenham expects to play next after it defeated eighth-tier Marine AFC 5-0 in the FA Cup, Mourinho replied: "Wednesday."

"Nobody told me that I'm not going to play so (on Monday morning) we start to prepare for that game, and the same Tuesday unless somebody tells us different."

Premier League rules state that a game cannot be postponed unless a team has fewer than 14 players available.

Spurs have already had a league game against Fulham postponed due to COVID-19.

 

Sky Sports has also reported that the Football Association will investigate Crystal Palace winger Eberechi Eze's visit to his former side Queens Park Rangers on Saturday for its FA Cup game against Fulham.

Eze was pictured not wearing a mask in the directors' box at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.

James Calder, the independent chairman of the government's committee on the return of elite sport, said the sport had to be more vigilant.

"Just because you have a negative test one day doesn't mean you won't have COVID the next day and be infectious," Calder told The Times.

"You need to keep your guard up ... that's not just players but all staff, outside the clubs and training grounds as well."

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment