Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho believes the way in which his side’s recent fixture against Fulham was postponed was ‘unprofessional’.
The match was called off by the Premier League three hours before Wednesday’s 6pm kick-off after Fulham reported an increase in positive COVID-19 cases throughout the squad ahead of the all-London clash.
Jose Mourinho Criticises Premier League for Tottenham Hotspur vs Fulham Postponement
Disruption to Spurs’ Preparation
Reports of a COVID-19 outbreak in the Fulham camp emerged on Tuesday evening, plunging the fixture into doubt. A late decision was made by the Premier League just a few hours before the scheduled kick-off, after approving Fulham’s request to reschedule the fixture.
Speaking ahead of Spurs’ home match against Leeds United, Mourinho shared his displeasure at the way the situation was handled.
“I don’t want to speak too much about it”, he said. “Just to say that I felt [it was] unprofessional but that is the way it was.
“Of course, we were preparing ourselves for that match and of course we didn’t play and that is disruptive of what is a week of work. The training sessions before that of course they would be different if we were going to play that game.
“So people can think good for you because you didn’t play, good for me if I didn’t play – and I know that I don’t play because then I could have a different cycle in the training sessions.”
In-Favour Football Will Continue
The London derby’s postponement was the second Premier League game to be cancelled within a week, after a number of positive cases at Manchester City forced their clash at Everton to be called off.
With cases continuing to rise, some have been calling for a halt in the season, similar to what we saw last year.
When quizzed on whether football should carry on in the current climate, Mourinho claimed his view on the matter is insignificant, but reinforced his support for continuing to play.
“We are in a position where I don’t believe opinions matter,” he said. “For sure, for sure my opinion doesn’t matter at all.
“I think you feel since the beginning of everything that I was always in favour of playing. I was always in favour of making all the possible sacrifices to play.
“But when we arrive into a situation that for me is very, very doubtful, I prefer not to speak and just to be ready. And thinking that tomorrow we’re going to play.”
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