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Jose Mourinho and Ralph Hasenhuttl agree that FA Cup replays should be scrapped

Tottenham and Southampton's winter break cut short after 1-1 draw on Saturday

Ralph Hasenhuttl and Jose Mourinho were in agreement that FA Cup replays are not needed
Image: Ralph Hasenhuttl and Jose Mourinho were in agreement that FA Cup replays are not needed

Jose Mourinho and Ralph Hasenhuttl were in agreement that Tottenham and Southampton's FA Cup replay is a game they could do without.

Both sides' winter break from the Premier League is now being cut short after the 1-1 draw in the fourth-round tie at St Mary's.

What does this mean for the winter break?

Tottenham, Newcastle and Southampton will now see their winter break cut short due to the FA Cup fourth-round replays, which will be played week commencing February 3

Spurs looked to have done enough to put their name in the hat after Son Heung-min gave them the lead but Sofiane Boufal's 87th-minute leveller ensured a replay next midweek.

Saints and Spurs were due to clock off for two weeks after next weekend's Premier League games but now they will do battle again, almost certainly on February 5.

Son celebrates
Image: Son celebrates putting Spurs ahead at St Mary's

"It is a result that keeps us alive, that keeps us in the draw," Mourinho said. "It is a result we don't need, we don't need to play one more match, but it is better to play than not to play.

"We were very close to winning. We are in the competition. It will affect (the winter break) a little bit. There is one more match we have to play.

"It is not a personal situation, Ralph was telling me the same, we don't need one more match. But I think both me and him prefer to play again than to be out."

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Hasenhuttl believes replays should be scrapped and revealed Southampton will now have to cancel flights for their warm-weather break.

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Jose Mourinho praised Christian Eriksen’s professionalism but conceded the situation surrounding his potential move to Inter Milan so late in the transfer window is an unpleasant one for Tottenham.

"Flights are getting cancelled," he said. "In the end I think we should have overtime, it is a cup game and we should have a winner or loser.

"Now we have a replay in our winter break and that doesn't make sense for me. This game deserved to have a winner or a loser. It was so intense, it was exciting for the fans and that is what a cup game should be about.

"We have enough games, so if you have a draw after 90 minutes go in overtime and a penalty shootout. That is what cup games are about. Now we have to go there."

Even Oxford boss Robinson agrees...

Oxford United Newcastle
Image: Karl Robinson agrees that FA Cup replays should be scrapped

Oxford boss Karl Robinson also called for FA Cup replays to be scrapped after his League One battlers secured a second chance to dump top flight Newcastle out of the fourth round.

Robinson's men battled their way to a 0-0 draw in front of 52,221 at St James' Park to take the Magpies back to the Kassam Stadium, although he admitted afterwards he would rather the tie had been settled on the day.

Asked if he agreed with Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola's suggestion that replays should be ditched, Robinson said: "Are you asking my chairman or me? My chairman wants it, trust me.

"I don't think that would be a bad thing. We're now going to play nine games in the month of February with a squad of 20 players. That's what we have. We don't have the funds or the resources to do that, so I think it would be better for everybody if it was finished today.

"It gives us an outcome immediately, it doesn't allow a backlog of games in February and then possibly even going into March, which will have a big influence on all of our players.

"At our level, we play a stupid amount of games - we're going to hit over 60 games this year, which is ludicrous. My players' bodies are at breaking point and I don't think it's fair."

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Super 6: Magic of the Cup?
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FREE TO PLAY: Do not miss your chance to land the Super 6 jackpot for the sixth time this season in Saturday's FA Cup round.

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