Jose Mourinho has dismissed concerns about players not being able to get match-fit in time for a Premier League restart.
With footballing actions suspended for almost three months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, players were essentially handed an early summer break.
Additionally, Premier League stars had been unable to train as a team during the lockdown period, before full-team and contact training was finally approved this month.
There are some concerns over whether players would have sufficient time to get match fit before the restart kick-off in three weeks time.
Former Arsenal, West Ham and England physio, Gary Lewin was one of several people to express fears over muscle injuries due to the lack of intense contact training beforehand (The Football Show, Sky Sports).
However, Mourinho has insisted that muscle injuries during pre-season were normal and that the situation wasn’t anything new.
He revealed that he and his coaching staff were anticipating a few injury problems over the next few weeks just as they normally would during pre-season.
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The 57-year-old told Spurs TV: “Yes, the boys are back but we have to be ready for problems now because this is pre-season. And Pre-season brings problems.
“I know some people are speaking like this is a new thing in football but problems in pre-season are not a new thing. Long time without playing, without training on the pitch, without competing.
“The players now are back and I can imagine it is not going to be different for us. We are going to have our little problems.
“I am not sure how we are going to arrive to our first match but in relation to these big injuries that ended in surgeries – Moussa, Sonny and Harry – Yes, they are back and we are going to start training with the full group next Monday. And yes, they are involved in the group.”
Spurs Web Opinion
I believe that we are likely to see the players eased back into proceedings when the season returns. I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a lot of rotation in the first two or three games as injury avoidance and recovery must take precedence after such a long break.
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