Green light for France after Covid-19 inquiry

Any doubt over England’s Guinness Six Nations rugby clash with France taking place as scheduled has faded after the findings of Les Bleus’ investigation into their coronavirus outbreak were approved by the French government.

A meeting yesterday resulted in the Championship favourites being given the green light to continue playing.

French sports minister Roxana Maracineanu had threatened to withdraw France because of the outbreak which saw 12 players and four back room staff, including head coach Fabien Galthie, test positive for Covid-19, forcing the postponement of the match against Scotland.

However, France have been cleared of any wrongdoing with education minister Jeanmichel Blanquer describing the coronavirus safety measures in place as “well developed”.

France face England at Twickenham a week today.

Pep Guardiola claims it is a “privilege” for Manchester City to compete with Manchester United for the Premier League title.

Guardiola’s City are on course for their third league crown in four seasons, having opened up a 14-point lead over secondplaced United heading into tomorrow’s derby at the Etihad Stadium.

Victory would be another step for City, who have won their last 21 matches in all competitions, towards a potential quadruple but Guardiola is paying 20time champions United plenty of respect.

He said: “It’s Manchester United – all the time United are top, top class. For us it’s a privilege to compete with them, being there in the last seasons in front of them.”

City may have had the edge over United in terms of league position in recent years but their derby encounters have been more evenly split.

Since taking charge at the Etihad Stadium in 2016, Guardiola has won six of his 13 Manchester derbies, lost five and drawn two.

“I know how difficult United are,” Guardiola said. “We have experienced that in the last years and I have the feeling that every year they are a better team than the previous season.

“They are a team with quality and for more than one year they have not lost away and they have had good results at the Etihad Stadium.

“But at the same time we know the opportunity we have to increase the distance.

“We spoke in training about what we have to do to beat them on the pitch and the way we want to play.”

Overall, City are unbeaten in 28 games and Guardiola has been hugely impressed by the hunger of his players, which he feels compares favourably to what he experienced while in charge at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

He said: “I’ve had incredibly hungry teams like you cannot imagine. To do what we have done in these four years, winning, still winning and, after that, winning and still winning, being there at the end, it’s because these guys have something special, like we had in Barcelona and Munich.”

Guardiola has the rare luxury of a fully-fit squad available this weekend.

Nathan Ake’s return after a muscular problem means that for the first time this season, City have none of their squad in the treatment room.

United will be without goalkeeper David De Gea, who has been allowed to return to Spain for the birth of his first child.

Dean Henderson steps in for the derby clash.

The 30-year-old was conspicuous by his absence from Wednesday’s 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace due to “personal reasons”, with the goalkeeper subsequently confirming his partner gave birth.