Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola to miss FA Cup match after testing positive for COVID-19

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola will miss the Friday, January 7, FA Cup third-round match against Swindon Town after testing positive for covid-19.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola will miss Friday's (January 7) FA Cup third-round match away to fourth-tier Swindon Town after testing positive for COVID-19, the Premier League club said on Thursday (January 6).

City said that Guardiola returned a positive test on Tuesday along with assistant Juanma Lillo. "Both are now isolating, along with a number of other positive cases within the City first team bubble," City said in a statement, adding that assistant coach Rodolfo Borrell will take charge of the team for Friday's game.

Seven first-team players and 14 backroom staff are isolating for COVID-19 related reasons, the club said. City are top of the Premier League table on 53 points after 21 matches, 10 points above second-placed Chelsea, whom they host in a league match on January 15 after facing Swindon.