London: Talks underway with Manchester United Premier League The Old Trafford club became the latest top-flight team to be hit by the coronavirus outbreak after a possible postponement of Tuesday’s match at Brentford.
United on Monday halted first-team operations at its Carrington training complex for 24 hours after several players and staff tested positive for the virus.
Ralph Rangnick’s team will not travel to London for the match until the outcome of discussions with the Premier League are known.
Aston Villa and Brighton also disclosed positive tests on Monday as the virus threatened to wreak havoc on the fixture list.
“Manchester United can confirm that following a PCR test confirmation of positive LFT COVID-19 cases among first-team staff and players yesterday, it has been decided to suspend first-team operations at the Carrington training complex for 24 hours. so as to minimize the risk of any further infection,” a joint statement said.
“Persons who test positive are in isolation as per Premier League protocol.
“Given the cancellation of training and the disruption to the squad, and with the health of players and staff a priority, the club is discussing with the Premier League whether it is safe to continue Tuesday’s fixture against Brentford, both from a covid Transition and player preparation perspective.
“The visit of the team and staff to London will be postponed until the outcome of that discussion.”
It was reported that after a small group of United players and staff returned positive lateral flow tests on Sunday, those individuals were sent home before the start of the training session.
With the Omicron variant becoming widespread across the UK – forcing the government to reintroduce strict Covid protocols – United’s outbreak comes against a backdrop of rising virus issues at Premier League clubs.
Tottenham’s Premier League fixture against Brighton on Sunday was postponed following an outbreak at the north London club, with boss Antonio Conte admitting he and his players were “scared”.
Conte said last Wednesday that eight players and five staff members had tested positive, prompting the Europa Conference League match against Rennes to be postponed.
Moments before United’s statement on Monday, Villa manager Steven Gerrard said his team had an outbreak of the virus, although their game against Norwich on Tuesday is not considered in doubt.
Gerrard confirmed that “some staff members and some players” had tested positive for Covid-19, causing Villa to cancel training on Sunday.
However, the squad trained as usual on Monday before their trip to Carrow Road, where United won 1-0 on Saturday before their positive tests.
“I made the decision yesterday. After getting a few positive cases, I thought it was common sense to cancel the session,” Gerrard said.
“We tested again this morning and we have some staff and some players missing for the foreseeable future, but the vast majority got through testing this morning and we look forward to competing against Norwich.”
Brighton manager Graham Potter said his squad had “three or four” positive tests, but their match against Wolves on Wednesday is not currently in danger.
“We’ve got a combination of injuries and Covid itself,” Potter said.
“We have three or four, I would say at the moment. And obviously it’s something we have to deal with like everyone else.
“Now we’re just checking and making sure it’s on that number.”
The Premier League last Thursday wrote to all top-flight clubs instructing them to reinstate COVID-19 emergency measures, including a return to social distancing and mask-wearing.
arsenal manager Mikel Arteta Last week the Premier League responded to an escalation in the virus outbreak by calling for it to issue clear guidelines on how many positive tests should be postponed.
Arteta’s team lost at Brentford on the opening weekend of the season when their game went ahead despite four positive tests.
United on Monday halted first-team operations at its Carrington training complex for 24 hours after several players and staff tested positive for the virus.
Ralph Rangnick’s team will not travel to London for the match until the outcome of discussions with the Premier League are known.
Aston Villa and Brighton also disclosed positive tests on Monday as the virus threatened to wreak havoc on the fixture list.
“Manchester United can confirm that following a PCR test confirmation of positive LFT COVID-19 cases among first-team staff and players yesterday, it has been decided to suspend first-team operations at the Carrington training complex for 24 hours. so as to minimize the risk of any further infection,” a joint statement said.
“Persons who test positive are in isolation as per Premier League protocol.
“Given the cancellation of training and the disruption to the squad, and with the health of players and staff a priority, the club is discussing with the Premier League whether it is safe to continue Tuesday’s fixture against Brentford, both from a covid Transition and player preparation perspective.
“The visit of the team and staff to London will be postponed until the outcome of that discussion.”
It was reported that after a small group of United players and staff returned positive lateral flow tests on Sunday, those individuals were sent home before the start of the training session.
With the Omicron variant becoming widespread across the UK – forcing the government to reintroduce strict Covid protocols – United’s outbreak comes against a backdrop of rising virus issues at Premier League clubs.
Tottenham’s Premier League fixture against Brighton on Sunday was postponed following an outbreak at the north London club, with boss Antonio Conte admitting he and his players were “scared”.
Conte said last Wednesday that eight players and five staff members had tested positive, prompting the Europa Conference League match against Rennes to be postponed.
Moments before United’s statement on Monday, Villa manager Steven Gerrard said his team had an outbreak of the virus, although their game against Norwich on Tuesday is not considered in doubt.
Gerrard confirmed that “some staff members and some players” had tested positive for Covid-19, causing Villa to cancel training on Sunday.
However, the squad trained as usual on Monday before their trip to Carrow Road, where United won 1-0 on Saturday before their positive tests.
“I made the decision yesterday. After getting a few positive cases, I thought it was common sense to cancel the session,” Gerrard said.
“We tested again this morning and we have some staff and some players missing for the foreseeable future, but the vast majority got through testing this morning and we look forward to competing against Norwich.”
Brighton manager Graham Potter said his squad had “three or four” positive tests, but their match against Wolves on Wednesday is not currently in danger.
“We’ve got a combination of injuries and Covid itself,” Potter said.
“We have three or four, I would say at the moment. And obviously it’s something we have to deal with like everyone else.
“Now we’re just checking and making sure it’s on that number.”
The Premier League last Thursday wrote to all top-flight clubs instructing them to reinstate COVID-19 emergency measures, including a return to social distancing and mask-wearing.
arsenal manager Mikel Arteta Last week the Premier League responded to an escalation in the virus outbreak by calling for it to issue clear guidelines on how many positive tests should be postponed.
Arteta’s team lost at Brentford on the opening weekend of the season when their game went ahead despite four positive tests.
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