Heartbreak at the Etihad Stadium as Man City Manager Pep Guardiola Tests Positive for Covid

• Pep Guardiola has tested positive for covid-19 according to a statement by English Premier League club Manchester City
• The tactician will miss their FA Cup clash with Swindon Town along with assistant Juanma Lillo who also tested positive for the infection
• Reports have it that the Etihad club has now been plunged into crisis as about 21 members are now ordered into isolation

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola will miss his team’s FA Cup clash against Swindon Town on Friday having tested positive for Covid-19.

In a club statement on Thursday, Guardiola recorded a positive test two days earlier alongside assistant manager Juanma Lillo as they have both been ordered into isolation.

The number of other positive cases within the first-team bubble as risen greatly as this brings the number of those isolating for Covid related reasons amongst the group to 21.

Sky Sports are reporting that the Citizens now have 14 backroom staff and seven first-team players isolating due to Covid-19.

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Consequently, assistant coach Rodolfo Borrell will now lead the team to Swindon as the club will now take on Chelsea in the Premier League at the Etihad on Saturday, January 15.

A club statement said via Mirror:

"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."

Liverpool's training ground closed

Meanwhile, Liverpool’s Carabao semi-final fixture against Arsenal on Thursday, January 6has been postponed as the Anfield club has been ravaged by rising Covid cases forcing the club’s training base to be shut down.

The Reds have seen cases of positive Covid cases on the rise with both managerial and playing staff all contracting the virus with the latest being assistant manager Pep Lijnders.

Jurgen Klopp, Roberto Firminho and Fabinho have all returned a positive PCR test result in the past week and all were excluded in the Red’s trip to Chelsea last Sunday with Liverpool securing an entertaining 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge.

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Limited crowd approved for AFCON matches

Sports Brief earlier reported that the African Cup of Nations gets underway in Cameroon in five days' time but will have limited crowd capacity as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

AFCON kicks off on January 9, 2022 till 6 February, 2022 and features the 24 best teams on the African continent competing for the title.

Cameroon as the host nation will have their games capped at 80% attendance, according to The South African. All other games will be reduced to 60% attendance levels.