Manchester City confirmed this Thursday (06) that final tests conducted on players, staff and members of the coaching staff resulted in 21 positive cases for COVID-19. Among the infected are coach Pep Guardiola and his assistant Juanma Lillo. Thus, both will not be able to appear for the FA Cup on this Friday (7th) commitment against Swindon Town.
With Guardiola and Lillo essentially removed, the club’s third assistant coach, Rodolfo Borrell, will be responsible for leading the team in the next appointment. At the club since the 2013/14 season, Borrell will have his first time directing the team. At 51, the Spaniard also has spells in Barcelona, Iraklis, Greece and Liverpool.
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Apart from the positive cases in the technical committee, seven players from the main team also tested positive, but their names were not officially disclosed by the club. Despite the high number of cases due to a major outbreak of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom, Manchester City did not plead with the English Federation to postpone the game.
For the game against Swindow Town, the plan made by Guardiola must be maintained. According to the English newspaper “The Sun”, the coach was at the club’s training center until last Tuesday (04), and managed to organize the strategies for the game very well. Manchester City’s biggest concern now is Guardiola’s absence for the crucial match against Chelsea on 15 January.
It is expected that the coach has already recovered and is available until then, but Guardiola’s new absence for the crucial game cannot be ruled out. Chelsea are the current runners-up in the Premier League and being able to beat an opponent is crucial to keeping Manchester City isolated at the top of the national competition.
