Wales

'Impossible' for more fixtures to be cancelled, says Mourinho

08-Jan-2021 15:18:26 | Yahoo Sports

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT VIDEO SHOWS: NEWS CONFERENCE WITH TOTTENHAM MANAGER JOSE MOURINHO / FILE FOOTAGE OF TOTTENHAM TRAINING AND ASTON VILLA'S VILLA PARK SHOWS: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (DECEMBER 9, 2020) (UEFA - NO RESALES. NO COMMERCIAL USE. MUST ON-SCREEN COURTESY "©UEFA 2021") (MUTE) 1. TOTTENHAM TRAINING SESSION 2. TOTTENHAM MANAGER JOSE MOURINHO AT TRAINING SESSION 3. TOTTENHAM TRAINING SESSION LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JANUARY 8, 2021) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR MANAGER, JOSE MOURINHO, SAYING: "I believe that is a completely impossible situation for the club to have three matches postponed especially if that club plays in Europe." 5. WHITE FLASH 6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR MANAGER, JOSE MOURINHO, SAYING: "So, for a Europa League team to have three matches postponed is impossible." BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - JUNE 17, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 7. VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF VILLA PARK LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JANUARY 8, 2021) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR MANAGER, JOSE MOURINHO, SAYING: "The only thing that we that we can say is that what we did in in the beginning of the season is impossible to repeat, and we refuse to repeat, because then we have to defend our players, we have to defend the integrity of our competitions, and we would never accept to play seven matches in three weeks like we did before, because of the moment of the season. One thing is beginning, another thing is mid-season, and also because of the difficulty and the demanding of the matches because one thing is to play with all the risk that we did the Europa play offs, another thing is to play Europa League knock out where all the best teams are there." 9. WHITE FLASH 10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR MANAGER, JOSE MOURINHO, SAYING: "So, from the beginning of the competition (Premier League) that we knew that possibly we would have to play a game or more with 14 players available, from all the players available, including the Academy players. We knew that by the rule that could happen to us. We had positive cases we cannot deny. Players, coaches, other staff, we also had problems." BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - JUNE 17, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 11. VARIOUS OF FLAGS HANGING AT VILLA PARK LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (DECEMBER 9, 2020) (UEFA - NO RESALES. NO COMMERCIAL USE. MUST ON-SCREEN COURTESY "©UEFA 2021") (MUTE) 12. VARIOUS OF TOTTENHAM TRAINING SESSION LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JANUARY 8, 2021) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR MANAGER, JOSE MOURINHO, RESPONDING TO QUESTION ABOUT THEIR FA CUP OPPONENTS MARINE, SAYING: "And then is a club, is a team is a group of boys, playing the game of their careers. So, what can we do apart of respect them and win the match? Nothing. I always believe that to respect these teams is to beat them. To show respect to them is to beat them, to show respect to them is to play with a good team, with a team with responsibility, with a team with motivation, with the team that goes there and wins the game. That is to show respect. That is the Cup mentality of the big teams. If we go there and we lose, of course would be amazing for them, but I think would be a lack of respect from us to them." LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (DECEMBER 9, 2020) (UEFA - NO RESALES. NO COMMERCIAL USE. MUST ON-SCREEN COURTESY "©UEFA 2021") (MUTE) 14. TOTTENHAM TRAINING SESSION 15. GARETH BALE AT TRAINING STORY: Jose Mourinho called on the Premier League to avoid further postponements over COVID-19 concerns, with Tottenham Hotspur's game at Villa Park next week in doubt after 10 Aston Villa first-team players tested positive. Mourinho's side have already had one league game postponed, against Fulham after a rise in coronavirus cases among Scott Parker's squad, and the reverse fixture with their London rivals in April will be moved after Spurs reached the League Cup final. "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," Mourinho said before Sunday's FA Cup third round trip to eighth-tier Marine. "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," the Spurs manager added. Mourinho said his entire squad has tested negative in the latest round of checks, despite Brentford boss Thomas Frank testing positive after Spurs' League Cup semi-final win over the Championship side. Forward Gareth Bale could feature against Marine after recovering from a calf injury and training with Spurs first-team players on Friday. (Production: Iain Axon)