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Alasdair Gold

Jose Mourinho delivers verdict on extending five subs rule as Premier League vote takes place

Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho is in favour of keeping the five substitution rule as Premier League clubs vote on that subject on Thursday.

The English top flight sides, including newly-promoted Leeds, West Brom and Fulham, will vote on a variety of issues ahead of the 2020/2021 season.

As the clubs took on Project Restart amid lockdown restrictions, they voted to allow five substitutions and increase the matchday squad from 18 to 20.

Alasdair Gold's Spurs season debrief and the transfer window

UEFA have said the option to continue with that remains for leagues and the Premier League will vote on whether to continue with the five substitution rule or revert back to three.

Just before Tottenham's season came to an end, Mourinho was asked about his thoughts on keeping the ability to use five subs.

The Portuguese had previously aired his displeasure with the rule, suggesting that it favoured big clubs with more stars to bring off their bench.

However, Mourinho had changed his view somewhat when asked again.

"I like the 20 players [in the squad]. It doesn't make any sense to travel with 20 players and then you arrive in the stadium and have to send two guys to the stands," he said.

"The clubs pay every player and invest in every player and it's much better for a manager to have on the bench a right-back, a left-back, a centre-back, a winger, a midfielder, a striker.

"It's much better to have everything there because it's the ammunition you need. For all tactical reasons, beauty of the game, competitive of the game, it's a fair way to treat players because they want to feel they're in the game, and they feel that on the bench. It's different to staying at home."

He added: "So the 20 players on the bench, I love it. It gives you more chance to bring young people [on] and gives a much better feeling to everybody.

"Twenty players on the bench, I think very, very good. The five subs, I don't mind it. In the majority of matches, myself, I felt no need for that, but one thing is no need, another thing is no chance.

"So if you have the chance to do it, I don't think it's a problem, because it can only be done in three periods, it doesn't affect much more the real time of the game, coaches cannot stop the game five times as you know.

"I think it's fine. I don't see a problem at all with that."

Premier League clubs will also run through how to implement VAR for the coming season and discussions on piloting limited numbers of supporters being allowed at pre-season matches and at some Premier League games when the season kicks off on September 12.

Discussions over what happens if a Premier League season needs to be curtailed will also be back on the agenda for the clubs.

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