Tottenham v Rennes Europa Conference League match called off due to Covid outbreak

Tottenham’s Europa Conference League match against Rennes tomorrow night has been called off due to the club’s Covid outbreak.

Earlier today, manager Antonio Conte revealed that he only had 10 first-team players available due to 13 positive cases.

The Italian was visibly upset during his press conference, and said the Covid outbreak was “scary”.

Tottenham have now said the Europa Conference League game has been postponed.

In a statement it said: “We can confirm that our UEFA Europa Conference League Group G home fixture against Stade Rennais will not take place tomorrow after a number of positive COVID-19 cases at the club.

“Discussions are ongoing with UEFA and we shall provide a further update on this fixture in due course.

“Additionally, following discussions with the Health Security Agency and DCMS advisers, the club has been advised to close the first team area of its training centre at this time, in the interests of the health and safety of players and staff.

“All other areas of the training centre remain operational.”

This now makes Saturday’s fixture against Brighton highly likely to be 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, with their training ground completely shut.

In his press conference early today, Conte had already cast doubt over the Brighton match.

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

“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.

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.”

London has become the Omicron hotspot of England, the new ultra-transmissible variant.