Tottenham manager Antonio Conte casts doubts over Brighton game due to Covid outbreak

Tottenham manager Antonio Conte has admitted Saturday’s Premier League match against Brighton is in jeopardy, after he was left with only 10 players to work with due to Covid-19.

LondonWorld reported on Tuesday morning that a number of the first team players and staff members at Hotspur Way had tested positive for Covid-19.

The situation has continued to deteriorate even further, with the Italian manager left with only 10 first team players ahead of tomorrow’s game against Rennes in the Europa Conference League.

Conte revealed eight players and five members of staff have now tested positive - however their identities have not been revealed.

The game is of huge significance to Tottenham who must win to stand a chance of progressing to the round of 32, after they suffered a 2-1 defeat minors Mura in the last ground of games.

“Eight players and five members of staff but the problem is that every day we’re having people with Covid,” Conte said.

“People that yesterday weren’t positive and today are, and we’re continuing to have contact with. It’s a serious problem.

“We had 11 players available for the match and by the end of the training session today one of the players who would start tomorrow is now positive.

“It’s scary. We’re all having contact, everyone is a bit scared, we all have families.”

And he appeared to cast doubt on whether the team could play their upcoming matches.

Conte said: “I ask why? Why? Yesterday we trained and two positives, today we trained and after another two positives.

“Who is next? It’s not right, we’re going home to our families.”

The UEFA rules might make it difficult for Tottenham to pull out of the game against Rennes, because a football match must go on if a team can name 13 players.

This includes second-team players, so Conte might call on some of the U23’s to make up the numbers.

However the Premier League game against Brighton Hove and Albion could be in danger of being called off.

Last season, Aston Villa v Everton had to be rescheduled as a significant number of the Villa players and staff had to go in isolation, their training grounds were also shut completely.

In total, six Premier League games were rescheduled last season due to Covid-19 and Spurs might be forced to consider that even though they already have an outstanding game against Burnley which was called off due to snow.

Covid-19 cases are on the rise again in the Premier League with Chelsea also confirming that midfielder Mateo Kovacic tested positive and did not travel with the team to play a against Zenit St Petersburg tonight.