Zack likely to start for City after Ederson hints at virus To reveal he is
Self-isolating
CITY goalkeeper Ederson Moraes appears to be a doubt for today’s match against Chelsea – and the Manchester Derby on Wednesday.
Pep Guardiola’s men face United at Old Trafford during the week in a Carabao Cup semi-final clash, and they could be without their number one.
Ederson has said he is self-isolating, putting him at risk of missing the clash with United in just four days’ time.
It was revealed on Friday that five
City stars are isolating amid coronavirus concerns with two members of staff also in self-isolation.
Kyle Walker and Gabriel Jesus tested positive on Christmas Day and a further three players have since tested positive ahead of City’s visit to Stamford Bridge this afternoon.
“It was four people - [including] two players - the first time and then three more,” Guardiola said in his press conference.
Refusing to name the players, the Spanish boss added: “I don’t think the Premier League allows us to name the players but you will know [on Sunday].”
But it seems Ederson has outed himself as one of the players, posting a picture of himself on Instagram for New Year’s Eve, and also writing: “I just prepared for this photo. My New Year’s eve is isolated”.
Zack Steffen now looks likely to deputise for the clash with Chelsea, but there will be concern over whether Ederson will return for the United game.
Whether the Brazilian will return in time will depend on when he entered selfisolation, which is 10 days from the first day, meaning the goalkeeper would have to have begun his isolation on December 27 or before to return in time for the short trip to Old Trafford.
It also seems very likely he - and the other players who are isolating - will miss the Chelsea clash, which is set to go ahead despite the fixture with Everton
being postponed on December 28 due to positive tests in the City camp.
Meanwhile, Guardiola hinted he might use academy players for the FA Cup tie with Birmingham City in order to field stronger teams against Chelsea and United.
With at least five City players missing today, Guardiola will have to rotate his pack for the next few games, depending on the health and fitness of his squad.
And that means the might turn to youth for the Birmingham clash to give more senior players a rest.
“I don’t think about what is going to happen in the Carabao Cup at Old Trafford on Wednesday,” he insisted. “We’re going to travel to London and get the tests back from the Premier League to tell us which players are available, we’re going to decide the team.
“Day by day we’re going to decide but for sure we’re going to prepare the FA Cup game with the best team
With the problems we have, we will go to Stamford Bridge to try to play our game and win
Pep Guardiola
counting all the situations that we have.
“We maybe have to use people from the EDS [Elite Development Squad], we will see but the team is going to play to win. People who know me know this will happen. We are never ever going to drop one competition or one game.
“When the other is better, that can happen and we will congratulate them but, with the problems that we have, we will go to Stamford Bridge to try to play our game and win.”
Despite the difficulties in keeping his squad fit, Guardiola dismissed the idea that City have it worse than others as he defended the club’s management of the recent Covid outbreak.
He said: “It’s not different from your life, I don’t think. You have family as well and know struggling businesses. We are fortunate that we can do it, we are more lucky than others. Of course for them it is strange and they are concerned.
“We will go to Chelsea and try to do our job but it is the same as your job as a journalist, or restaurants or supermarkets. Everyone’s concern is different. Life is completely different from what we have known so far and we have to wait for the vaccine and everything to be settled and more normal but I don’t think life will ever be like it was before.
“I said many times to the players, we can do our job.
“The Premier League and the club helps us to be in a safe bubble and do our job. Unfortunately last week our bubble was so safe but the virus came in.”
Pep Guardiola says EDS players could feature in the FA Cup later this month