Manchester City have suffered a major Covid outbreak ahead of their FA Cup game with Swindon, including a positive test for manager Pep Guardiola.
The City manager, as well as his assistant Juanma Lillo have tested positive for coronavirus and will now sit out the FA Cup game at Swindon on Friday night and self-isolate in line with Covid guidelines.
City insist that their third-round tie will still go ahead on Friday despite the fact that there are now 21 members of the first team squad isolating, including seven players. There are no plans to request a postponement, although the players will be tested again on Friday ahead of the game.
Those positive cases are the latest to hit the squad this winter. Phil Foden and Aleks Zinchenko missed the New Year's Day win over Arsenal after testing positive, while Rodri and Kyle Walker missed games in December. Kevin De Bruyne recorded a positive test on international duty with Belgium during the November international break.
City released a statement about the outbreak, saying: "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.
"This brings the number of those isolating for Covid related reasons amongst the group to 21. Of that number, 14 are backroom staff with seven first team players."
City's press conference for Swindon will still go ahead as scheduled on Thursday afternoon, with coach Rodolfo Borrell taking questions from the media at 1.30pm and then leading the team at Swindon.
