Mourinho expects Tottenham clash with Aston Villa to go ahead

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho is preparing for his side’s Premier League game at Aston Villa on Wednesday to go ahead.

The match is understood to be in doubt after a mass outbreak of coronavirus at the midlands club, with 10 first-team Villa players struck down with the virus.

Villa played their FA Cup game with Liverpool on Friday night with a youth team, losing 4-1.

Mourinho’s side, meanwhile, had their December 30 date with Fulham delayed due to Covid-19 in the Cottagers’ camp.

The manager has said it would be “completely impossible” for another one of Spurs’ league games to be cancelled and said teams should be ready to play with the minimum 14 players.

The PA news agency understands that Spurs are yet to hear anything from the Premier League regarding the fixture. So, Mourinho will begin preparations on Monday.

He may have been making more of a point about the lack of information from the league, but asked after Sunday’s 5-0 win at Marine when he expects his side to next play, Mourinho said: “Wednesday.”

 

 

Asked again whether he thinks the Villa game will go ahead, he replied: “Yeah. 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.”

Dele Alli could play at Villa

Should the game go ahead as planned, one player Mourinho could give a rare appearance to is Dele Alli.

The midfielder started Spurs’ FA Cup win over Marine, providing the assist for the first of their five goals.

After the match, Mourinho hinted that Alli could have a bigger role to play despite falling out of favour recently.


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“I am really happy with his attitude in the game,” Mourinho said. “Of course we didn’t want to risk much. The pitch is a bit dangerous and their enthusiasm can put the creative ones in some risk, but I am happy.

“Good professionalism, good dynamic from him and Gedson (Fernandes) to start trying to create, so really pleased for the performance.

“He was here today and of course it was not the match to measure the quality. But the professionalism and attitude and I am very happy with it. I will not be surprised if next Wednesday Dele is playing with us.”

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