Restart is set for delay as meeting labelled ‘disaster’

THIS week’s Premier League meeting over how the season will be resumed has been branded a ‘disaster’.

M.E.N. Sport understands Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta, West Ham’s Mark Noble and Watford’s Troy Deeney were the most vocal in airing their reservations on a conference call on Wednesday.

The date for the league to resume could now be pushed back to June 19 and the majority of Premier League managers and players are believed to be frustrated by certain clubs said to be using their agenda to block any progress.

A source told M.E.N. Sport: “The meeting was a disaster. Everyone has an agenda and the Premier League has to make decisions.”

Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho was targeted in the fall-out from Wednesday’s conference call after he took umbrage with certain concerns and expressed his dismay at reports he was blocking the season restart.

“I don’t think my position in the manager’s meeting has been reflected fairly in media,” Mourinho said in a statement released by Spurs. “I have not asked for any delay. I want to train and am desperate for the Premier League to return as soon as it is safe, particularly now we are seeing other leagues preparing to return to action.

“I am extremely proud of the way players have maintained fitness - they have shown great professionalism, passion and dedication. We have been working extremely hard through remote squad training sessions and isolated running.”