Following an outbreak of COVID-19 within the Aston Villa squad, Tottenham Hotspur’s game against them was postponed similarly to when the Fulham vs Spurs game was suspended. So, to kill two birds with one stone, the Premier League decided that, in place of the Aston Villa game scheduled for Wednesday, Tottenham would play Scott Parker and his Fulham side.
The decision, made on Monday, has rightfully left Scott Paker upset, who told the media: “The possibility of playing Spurs on Wednesday came on Saturday.
“We didn’t think that was realistic and we were informed Monday morning at 9:30. To confirm that on Monday morning is scandalous. I accept we have to play the game, but it’s the notice.”
Parker Right to Slam Decision to Move Spurs Game
Fulham, currently 18th in the Premier League and three points from safety with two games in hand, were about to have a seven-day break following an FA Cup tie against QPR on Saturday.
And they would have been preparing for exactly that; training may not have been as intense, and recovery would have been the primary focus and not tactical planning for a game against Spurs.
Yet, in the space of 48 hours, Scott Parker’s side were thrown from a period of rest into preparation for a game against one of the big six.
To tactically set up for a match against one of the top sides is difficult enough; to do it in the space of 48 hours having believed you had a week off is an entirely different circumstance and one that should not be happening.
Spurs knew they had a game of some kind to prepare for, at the very least, with the Villa game scheduled for Wednesday before being postponed. Mourinho’s side would have been preparing for a game, no matter what.
Parker’s side, on the other hand, will have had just 48 hours to get out of the relaxation of a week’s break and into a crucial fixture for their Premier League campaign.
Jose Mourinho’s Response
Following Scott Parker anger towards the decision, Jose Mourinho rebuffed any claims that the decision was ‘scandalous’, saying: “Are you serious? They had 48 hours to prepare for this game.”
The Tottenham manager then went onto compare his side’s similar lack of notice when preparing to face Scott Parker and Fulham a couple of weeks ago, saying: “Look, I had the news I was not going to play them two hours before the game started.”
Both managers have had their say on the matter with Mourinho complaining about the situation at Fulham a couple of weeks ago, and Parker labelling the decision to move his side’s game against Tottenham to Wednesday just 48 hours before the game as ‘scandalous’.
Both make viable points, and both situations point to one thing: The Premier League’s lack of organisation. Calling a game off with two hours to go until kick-off is one thing, but to then throw one team into a fixture with just 48 hours notice is another.
In an attempt to kill two birds with one stone, the Premier League have likely killed any chance of Scott Parker and his Fulham side coming away with anything against Tottenham.
Main Photo
Embed from Getty Images
