‘I have my doubts if everybody follows protocols’: Jose Mourinho hits out at Republic of Ireland set-up after his Tottenham defender Matt Doherty tested positive for Covid-19
- Jose Mourinho has been left furious after seeing his players contract Covid-19
- Mourinho will be without Matt Doherty this weekend following a positive test
- The Tottenham boss suggests Republic of Ireland did not follow all protocols
- Doherty is back in London and has isolated away from his wife and children
Jose Mourinho has hit out at the Republic of Ireland and suggested the international set-up has not vigorously followed the UEFA Covid-19 protocols.
Mourinho was left furious last week after learning that his Tottenham summer signing Matt Doherty had returned a positive test for the virus.
Doherty and James McClean each tested positive for Covid-19, along with team-mate Alan Browne who had also done likewise in the week prior.
Jose Mourinho feels the Republic of Ireland were unlikely to have been following covid-19 rules
Tottenham defender Matt Doherty tested positive for coronavirus while on international duty
Boss Stephen Kenny revealed that West Brom’s Callum Robinson brought the infection into camp ahead of Ireland’s friendly with England, after which Preston player Browne tested positive.
Robinson entered the Ireland bubble despite two of his club-mates testing positive just days earlier.
Speaking out on the incident and taking another swipe at international football, Mourinho said this week during his pre-match press conference: ‘When the players leave the club bubble, the story is a different story.
James McClean was another Republic of Ireland player to have tested positive for Covid-19
‘I have my doubts if everybody follows protocols in the way where the player is protected, a position is protected and society is protected too. I have my doubts.
‘It is a bit difficult for me to understand that the player, after a game, in the same night of the game, has a positive result.
‘Why after? Why not before? It’s a simple question, probably with a simple answer, but I don’t have the answer.’
The iconic Portuguese manager went on to outline that Doherty was making swift progress with his recovery and was being kept away from everybody until the virus has passed.
Mourinho added: ‘Matt is okay. Of course he’s isolated even from his family, his wife, his two little children.
If Mourinho pulls off victory over Pep Guardiola’s Man City on Saturday Spurs will go top
‘He is isolated, we are taking care of him medically – nutritionist, sports science – and now he feels good but we have to follow protocols so normally after a negative test next week he should be back.’
Victory over his rival Pep Guardiola and Manchester City on Saturday would see Mourinho temporarily go top of the Premier League table with 20 points.
Spurs would stay ahead of the pack and lead the division should Liverpool and Leicester City draw at Anfield on Sunday evening.