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Pep Guardiola says Manchester City have five players unavailable for Sunday’s Premier League game against Chelsea due to positive coronavirus tests.
Guardiola had hoped to take his team to Goodison Park on Monday to face Everton, but an increase in positive tests at the club caused the training ground to be closed and the match postponed hours before its scheduled start date.
On Christmas Day, City confirmed that defender Kyle Walker and Gabriel Jesus had contracted the virus and while no new positives allowed the club to resume training on Wednesday, Guardiola says it will not have at least three more players for the trip to Stamford. Bridge on Sunday. live Sky sports.
Sunday January 3 4:15 pm
Start 4:30 pm
Asked how many players will be missing, Guardiola replied: “Five at the moment. Five players are isolated for 10 days. The first cases that were reported were two players and three more the second time.”
The latest results bring the total number of first-team personnel in the club to seven, including two other staff members.
Guardiola added that the club was not yet in a position to reveal the identities of the last three players who tested positive.
He said: “I don’t think the Premier League allows us to name the players. We have to respect the privacy of the players, maybe. You will see the lineups and three important players who are not there, so you will know exactly but I am not allowed to tell you. “.
Gabriel Jesus and Kyle Walker tested positive for coronavirus over the Christmas period
Guardiola: We wanted to play against Everton
City reported “a series of positive cases” on Monday that led the Premier League to postpone the game against Everton.
Guardiola insisted that City had enough players available to make the trip to Goodison Park, but with news of the positive tests reaching the end of the day, there was no alternative but to suspend the game.
He said: “We had enough players to play against Everton. We have the quarry.
“We wanted to play but on match day, with more cases, we informed the Premier League.
“I personally called Carlo Ancelotti to announce the situation because we could play, but what if we travel in the coach and more players get it, because the day before we were all in contact.
“It was a huge risk, because it’s not about what happens here at Manchester City, it’s about what happens around the world.
“Unfortunately people are dying all over the world and in the UK. Unfortunately the problem is still here. Hopefully in the next tests everyone is negative and people who are positive at this time can come back safely.”
On Tuesday, the Premier League confirmed 18 positive tests for coronavirus among players and staff in its latest round of testing (December 21-27), the highest number of the season so far.
Everton expressed frustration after Monday’s game was postponed, calling in a statement for “full disclosure of all information” that led to the decision.
Ancelotti was later more sincere, sending his best wishes to those affected by City.
Guardiola added: “I preferred Carlo Ancelotti’s statement than the club’s statement. We would have loved to play but, wisely, the Premier League decided for the welfare of all not to increase cases.”
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