Guardiola tests positive for Covid-19; 7 Manchester City players in isolation

Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on October 30, 2021. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images) /

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has tested positive for Covid-19 and will now miss the FA Cup third-round clash against Swindon Town on Friday evening, the club confirmed.

Guardiola’s assistant manager, Juanma Lillo, also tested positive on Tuesday and will miss the game. Both are now in isolation amidst a major outbreak at Manchester City. 21 members of the first-team bubble are isolating for Covid related reasons, including seven players, the club added in their official statement.

Assistant coach Rodolfo Borrell will take charge of the Manchester City side for the trip to the County Ground, and as things stand, the third round FA Cup tie against Swindon will go on, reports Jack Gaughan of the Daily Mail.

When asked about the players in the pre-match presser, Rodolfo Borrell would not confirm which players would be unavailable for Friday’s trip to Swindon.

"“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,” claimed Borrell.The Spaniard feels the match will go on tomorrow and has prepared well with the available players. He added: “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.”"

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Following the game against Swindon Town, Manchester City are scheduled to face Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League on January 15. A week later, the Sky Blues faces a trip to Southampton.

Whether Pep Guardiola and Juanma Lillo along with seven players will return with negative tests before the big clash against Chelsea remains unknown for now.

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