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The city announced on Christmas Day that there were four positive tests at the club for players Kyle Walker and Gabriel Jesus and two staff members.
Manchester City players celebrate a goal against Wolverhampton Wanderers during their English Premier League match on September 21, 2020. Image: @ premierleague / Twitter
LONDON – Manchester City’s Premier League visit to Everton on Monday was postponed after multiple positive tests for the coronavirus were detected at City, the club confirmed.
“Based on strong medical advice, the Premier League, in consultation with both clubs, has decided to postpone the match,” City said in a statement.
The city announced on Christmas Day that there were four positive tests at the club for players Kyle Walker and Gabriel Jesus and two staff members.
“After the latest round of COVID-19 testing, the club returned a number of positive cases, in addition to the four already reported on Christmas Day,” the city statement added.
“With the security of the bubble compromised, there was a risk that the virus would spread further between equipment, personnel, and potentially beyond.”
The club’s training ground will now be closed for an “indeterminate period” with more testing to players and staff before it can reopen.
City will face Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday and Manchester United in the semi-finals of the League Cup on January 6.
Pep Guardiola’s men are already facing a congested schedule as they are still involved in four competitions and started their league season a week late after reaching the quarterfinals of the Champions League last season.
It is only the second time a Premier League match has been postponed due to COVID-19 since the 2019/20 season resumed in June.
Aston Villa’s clash with Newcastle earlier this month was called off due to an outbreak at Newcastle’s training ground.
POSTPONING A ‘CAUTION’
The Premier League said the decision was made as a “precaution” and is confident that the protocols in place to stop the spread of the virus continue to work despite the rise in infections in England.
“Manchester City today submitted a request to the Premier League to reorganize the match following an increase in positive COVID-19 test results received by the club this morning, in addition to the cases reported on Christmas Day,” said the Premier League in a statement. .
“This increase has created uncertainty and the Premier League Board received medical advice that the match should be postponed.
“The Board agreed to reorganize the game as a precautionary measure, and more tests will be carried out tomorrow. The decision has been made with the health of the players and staff as a priority.”
“The Premier League continues to have full confidence in its protocols and rules, and in the way that all clubs are implementing them.”
Guardiola’s mother died of coronavirus earlier this year and, following Saturday’s 2-0 win over Newcastle, the City manager said the health of his players must take priority.
“What we want is that Gabriel and Kyle do not get worse and can be asymptomatic and spend these 8-10 days without serious symptoms,” said Guardiola.
“Covid is here. It is not only here in Man City, it is all over the world attacking hard, so we have to be careful and what we want is that the next few days they have no symptoms and they recover.”
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