Guardiola, who came to prominence after managing Barcelona in the past, recorded a positive test on Tuesday along with assistant Juanma Lillo.
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Manchester City received a massive blow ahead of their FA Cup third-round tie at Swindon on Friday after it was announced that their manager Pep Guardiola has tested positive for Covid-19. Guardiola, who came to prominence after managing Barcelona in the past, recorded a positive test on Tuesday along with assistant Juanma Lillo. They both are now isolating themselves. In a statement, the defending Premier League champions confirmed that this brings the number of those isolating for Covid-19 related reasons in the group to 21. Notably, 14 of them are backroom staff, while seven are first-team players. As a result, assistant coach Rodolfo Borrell will take charge of the team for the clash against Swindon.
A club statement read: “Pep Guardiola will miss tomorrow evening’s FA Cup trip to Swindon Town after testing positive for Covid-19. The City manager recorded a positive test on Tuesday along with assistant Juanma Lillo. Both are now isolating, along with a number of other positive cases within the City first team bubble.”
Pep Guardiola will miss tomorrow evening’s FA Cup trip to Swindon Town after testing positive for Covid-19.
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“This brings the number of those isolating for Covid related reasons amongst the group to 21. Of that number, 14 are backroom staff and seven are first-team players. Assistant coach Rodolfo Borrell will take charge of the team for the trip to Swindon.”
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When asked how Guardiola was, Borrell, as quoted by skysports, said: “He is fine. He has got the virus but fortunately he doesn’t have a lot of symptoms.”
Borrell, however, did not confirm who among the players would not be available for Friday’s game. He said: “This is not for me to say. We have seven players (out) and I have to prepare for the game. I would not like to mention them because I might forget one. I don’t think it is for me to say right now.”
He was then asked if the high number of cases could lead to the match possibly being postponed. Borrell replied: “We have prepared mentally for the game. We have to prepare for the game to happen. If tomorrow it is not possible because of more news, this is out of our reach for now. Possibly, (it will) be one of the most easy line-ups we have to decide. We just play with the ones available. We don’t have much more.”
On Thursday, Burnley announced that their manager Sean Dyche will miss their home tie to Huddersfield Town after testing positive for Covid-19. Till Dyche returns from his isolation period, his assistant Ian Woan will now take charge of the side.
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