Jose Mourinho is still confident that the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur would go on as planned despite the coronavirus pandemic Aston Villa are currently battling with.
On the 8th of January, 2020, Aston Villa had to line up youngsters to face Liverpool in an FA Cup third-round match played at Villa Park. The club had to do that because about 10 of their first-team players were said to have been in contact with a coronavirus patient or down with the virus. The match ended 4-1 in favor of Liverpool.
With this development, the probability of Aston Villa hosting Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday, January 13, is very slime but Jose Mourinho stressed that he has not been informed that the match would be postponed as of Sunday, January 10.
While speaking after Tottenham Hotspur thrashed non-League club Marine 5-0 in an FA Cup third-round match, the Portuguese tactician revealed that his squad would start preparing for the Aston Villa vs Tottenham league match on Monday, January 11.
🎞️ 𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦 | 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝟬-𝟱 𝗦𝗽𝘂𝗿𝘀#THFC ⚪ #COYS pic.twitter.com/x8P7m0uqez
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 10, 2021
While referring to Tottenham’s inability to play against Fulham in a Premier League game on December 30 due to a high number of coronavirus cases at Fulham, Jose Mourinho insisted that it would not be ideal for another Tottenham Hotspur’s league match to be postponed.
Hence, he has mapped out a plan which would help him to execute the league match if the Premier League deem it fit to allow it to go ahead as planned.
“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”, said Jose Mourinho.
The Portuguese tactician whose team is currently sitting on the 4th spot on the league table seems not to be a fan of league games being postponed for the sake of an opposing team being infested by Covid-19.
On Friday, January 8, Jose Mourinho urged the Premier League to show leadership in handling the issue of clubs having high cases of coronavirus infection, which often leads to the disruption of the league’s fixtures. He described the situation where Tottenham’s game had to be postponed over coronavirus cases in other clubs as punishment to Tottenham.
“It’s the moment for the Premier League to show leadership, to make decisions. A club like us is trying everything every day to be ready to play, to follow the rules we have in our hands”, he said.
“We cannot be punished. If we don’t play against Aston Villa, that will be three matches postponed, and that will be impossible.
“After the season we have the Euros [due to begin on June 11], and of course the Euros are not going to be moved. I believe it is an impossible situation for a club to have three matches postponed, especially if that club plays in Europe.”
“A good attitude – win the match as soon as possible, result done at half-time and everything is fine.”
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 10, 2021
🗣️ Jose’s verdict on today’s game#THFC ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/qJp9dY5Ohf
Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur league match postponed against the wish of Jose Mourinho
Meanwhile, the Premier League has released a press statement on Monday, January 11, announcing that Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur match which was supposed to take place on Wednesday, January 13, has been rescheduled because of the high number of Aston Villa’s players who currently have coronavirus.
Tottenham would have to play their outstanding game against Fulham on Wednesday, while Fulham’s league game against Chelsea which was earlier scheduled to take place on Friday has been moved to Saturday, January 16.
The Premier League statement read: “Aston Villa’s match against Tottenham Hotspur, due to be played at Villa Park on Wednesday 13 January, has been rescheduled following a decision by the Premier League Board.
“Following Aston Villa’s request to rearrange the fixture, and due to the number of players and staff who have either tested positive for COVID-19 or have been placed in isolation by the club, the Premier League had no other option than to reschedule the game.
“With the health of players and staff the priority, the League continues to work with Aston Villa on measures to ensure their League season resumes safely and at the earliest opportunity.
“The Premier League wishes those with COVID-19 a full and swift recovery and will rearrange Aston Villa’s game against Tottenham Hotspur as soon as possible.
“As a result of this rescheduling, Spurs will now play their home match against Fulham FC in its place, on Wednesday 13 January at 8.15 pm on Amazon Prime Video. The fixture was previously postponed to 30 December.
“With Fulham now playing on Wednesday 13 January, their home fixture against Chelsea FC will be moved from Friday 15 January to Saturday 16 January at 5.30 pm and will remain live on Sky Sports.
“Everton’s away game at Aston Villa will be rescheduled from Saturday 16 January 5.30 pm to Sunday 17 Jan12 pm noon and will remain live on Sky Sports.”
