Pep: Covid is making me lose touch with my players

DAVID DAVIDM McDONNELL DONNELL PEP GUARDIOLA has admitted his plans for Manchester City’s trip to Chelsea have been thrown into chaos by the Covid outbreak that has hit his squad. Guardiola is without five members of his first-team squad for the trip to Stamford Bridge tomorrow – Kyle Walker, Gabriel Jesus and three unnamed players – after all returned positive

Covid tests.

The City boss admitted picking a team and devising tactics had been made that much harder by the enforced changes to his personnel, with his side also facing fixture overload this month.

City are facing the prospect of nine games in 27 days this month, with their rearranged season opener at home to Aston Villa on

January 20, while a date has yet to be agreed for the Everton game.

It all amounts to a major headache for Guardiola, but one he said he has no choice but to deal with.

Asked how his plans for Chelsea have been affected by the Covid outbreak Guardiola replied: “You’re less in ttouch.hTThe players aren’t in the locker room any more, we just see them on the training pitch and it is what it is.

“We have a good enough squad to go there and try to compete against a tough opponent in Chelsea. We know how it is, and we’re going there to play our game, with enthusiasm and good will, to try to get a result and do a good performance.

“I think the guys who are here will be healthy. Five are not here and two backroom staff, but the rest are okay.

“Hopefully there will be no more cases. We have done two in four days. We have another on Saturday and on Monday we have another. Every two days we have tests.

“We spoke every day to the players – be careful, stay at home, don’t be in contact with other people and do what you have to do.

“Follow the scientists and the measures we have to follow.”

On the fixture pile-up that faces City and the huge burden that places on his players in an already truncated season, Guardiola said: “It is what it is.

“When you’re able to win a lot of titles, especially four titles in one season, you play a lot of games.

“We have nine games in 27 days and after, maybe eight or nine in the second month, so don’t think too much. We’ll play every game with who we have and do as best as we can.”