“It’s the first time in my life…”- Antonio Conte astounded by Premier League rule
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Tottenham manager Antonio Conte, during his recent press conference, expressed his astonishment at the way how the Premier League has decided to call off a series of fixtures including the much-awaited North London Derby between Tottenham and Arsenal.
Antonio Conte expressed the league’s decision to accept Arsenal’s request to call off Sunday’s north London derby as “strange and surprising” as the Gunners only had one confirmed COVID-19 case, with most of their absentees due to injury and international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.
He said, “It was disappointing because we prepared the game to play against Arsenal and the decision to postpone the game was very, very strange. The club made a statement to show our disappointment.”
Also read: “The rules are clear..”- Brendan Rodgers opens up on postponement of Premier League games
The Italian said the league should consider changing their schedule if they are going to start postponing games because of injuries.
Ahead of Tottenham‘s fixture against Leicester City, Antonio Conte said, “I think that if the Premier League decides to postpone games for injury it means that maybe they have to try to make a best schedule and to reduce (the number of) games.”
“This is the first time in my life that there is a league that has postponed the game for injuries. It is very strange and surprising for this.“
Antonio Conte on players welfare
The Italian manager further spoke on players welfare and said that if you people want to protect the players and promote players welfare, then there should be lesser games instead of having to play two games within a gap of two days.
Antonio Conte said, “Sometimes it’s very strange to listen about the welfare of the players, because if you think that someone has to look to the welfare of the players, surely you have to play less games and especially not two play games within two days.
“Otherwise why do you speak about the welfare of players? It’s only honest views, only to tell something that is stupid in my opinion because you protect the players to give them rest, to play and rest but if we want only to play and then sure you can speak about the welfare of the players. It’s very strange.
“My feeling is that when there is a situation to play we have to play. Not to postpone games for injuries, for international duty.
“I think we have a big problem to solve and it’s COVID, but only about this situation can you decide to postpone, not for other situations.
“Honestly, it’s my first time in my life – and I’ve had a bit of experience in football – to see postpone games because of injuries.”
Spurs are set to be back in action to play against Leicester City on Wednesday for a rearranged game that was originally postponed in December.
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Sandipan Roy
(207 Articles Published)