Pep Guardiola confirms 5 Man City players isolating with COVID-19

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that he will be without five players for Sunday's meeting with Chelsea because of positive COVID-19 tests.

The Premier League were forced to postpone a scheduled meeting between City and Everton in late December after Guardiola's side were hit by several positive tests over two separate rounds of testing, prompting fears that there may have been an uncontrolled outbreak at the club's training ground.

Subsequent tests have not thrown up any more positives, and Guardiola has now confirmed that he will only be without the five players when they travel to Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

"Five right now," he said (via Manchester Evening News). "Five players are isolating for ten days and some of them, the first cases that were released, it was four people - two players - and three more the second time

"The Premier League told us not to. We have to respect the privacy of the players maybe. Tomorrow you will see the lineups and three important players not there so you will know exactly but I'm not allowed to tell you."

Kyle Walker and Gabriel Jesus have already been confirmed to be isolating, while goalkeeper Ederson confirmed on Instagram that he is isolating as well.

Despite the lack of players, Guardiola does not want the game to be postponed, just as he didn't want to see the Everton game called off. The Toffees were frustrated with the decision, and Guardiola admitted he was equally as disappointed.

"We had enough players to play against Everton. We wanted to play against Everton. We had enough players. We have the academy," he said.

"Personally I called Carlo Ancelotti to announce the situation because we could play, but what happens if we travel on the coach and more players get it? The day before we were in touch all of us, and what would happen if the Everton players got infected from us?

"It was a huge risk, because it's not about what happens here in Manchester City, it's about what happens all around the world.

"People are unfortunately dying all around the world and in the UK. Unfortunately the problem is still here. Hopefully the next tests everyone is negative and the people who are positive right now can come back without a problem."

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