Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho has denied being the driving force behind a bid to delay the return of the Premier League and says he wants to resume playing as soon as it is safe to do so.
All 20 top-flight bosses discussed a number of aspects around the resumption of training and matches in a video conference call with the Premier League on Wednesday.
A number of managers are thought to have argued that they will need at least a month's "pre-season" to get their players in shape, leaving the Premier League's plans to resume fixtures on June 12 in doubt.
With a return to group training also behind schedule, a more realistic date for resuming matches is now June 19 - and Mourinho was reported to have been a leading voice pushing for the delay.
But he said: "I don’t think my position in the meeting has been reflected fairly at all today in media reports. I have not asked for any delay.
"I want to train, and I am desperate for the Premier League to return as soon as it is safe to do so, particularly now we are seeing other leagues preparing to return to action.
"I am extremely proud of the way my players have maintained their fitness – they have shown great professionalism, passion and dedication. We have all been working extremely hard through remote squad training sessions and isolated running now the pitches are available to use again at the training centre.
"Every player has been extremely committed in terms of their individual work and now we wait for clearance to commence working in small groups again, which I will fully support."
In Pictures | Jose Mourinho helps deliver food parcels | 30/04/2020
Mourinho has continued to visit the club's Hotspur Way training base during lockdown to lead group fitness sessions via Zoom, while the club allowed players back for individual drills earlier this month. Group training, with strict safety protocols in place, could begin next week.
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Spurs were one of the last top-flight clubs to end group training after the Premier League was suspended on March 13, and they were also vocal in opposing the use of neutral venues in last week's Premier League shareholders' meeting.
