Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho has addressed being seen training in a park with Tanguy Ndombele during the coronavirus pandemic.
Mourinho breached UK Government guidelines around exercise and the Mirror report that the club spoke to the Portuguese in the wake of the incident.
First team players Davinson Sanchez and Ryan Sessegnon were also pictured jogging in another area.
While Mourinho is believed to have observed social distancing, he released a statement on the matter today.
“I accept that my actions were not in line with government protocol and we must only have contact with members of our own household. It is vital we all play our part and follow government advice in order to support our heroes in the NHS and save lives.”
That Mourinho was pictured with Ndombele in Hadley Common in London was interesting in itself, as the French player struggled for fitness at times during his first season at the club.
A spokesperson for Tottenham said:
"All of our players have been reminded to respect social distancing when exercising outdoors. We shall continue to reinforce this message."
London Mayor Sadiq Khan told the BBC that the image of Mourinho wasn't ideal.
"My concern is, people particularly children who might support Spurs or follow football, may see these images, pick up a paper, watch the internet and think, well if it's OK for them, why isn't it OK for me?"
"I don't think it is necessary to be training in close proximity with another player who may be carrying the virus. And what you're doing is inadvertently, unintentionally, potentially spreading the virus - you shouldn't be doing that."
