The Manchester City duo of Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte are among the latest victims of the COVID -19 pandemic as the dreaded disease continues to loom its large shadow on the sporting world.
Coronavirus has not only changed our world but also our perception of the world. And the sporting arena is no exception. And the dreaded disease doesn’t distinguish whether you are a 7-year-old kid in Madeira or one of the world’s best footballers in Manchester.
And now adding to the continuously growing list of Corona positive sporting superstars is the much-acclaimed Etihad duo.
The mess in Manchester:
Manchester City has confirmed that the charismatic duo has tested positive for COVID -19 and would have to undergo a 14 day period of self-isolation in accordance with the Premier League protocols. Fortunately, neither of the two are displaying any symptoms as of now.
NEWS | City duo test positive for Covid-19
🔷 #ManCity | https://t.co/axa0klD5rehttps://t.co/O8Bvm665Ie
— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 7, 2020
City added in a statement: “Everyone at the club wishes Riyad and Aymeric a speedy recovery ahead of their return to training and the new season.”
The duo came forward on Twitter to express their gratitude for all the well-wishers and expressed their desire to be back in training as soon as possible.
Thank you for all the nice messages, I'm good. Stay safe everyone take care of you 👍🏼👍🏼 https://t.co/cXICpDEOry
— Riyad Mahrez (@Mahrez22) September 7, 2020
With the new season due to start in just 5 days, the entire episode does add even more headache to an already strained Pep Guardiola.
The entire Lionel Messi saga and the dream of Messi being at Etihad remaining just a dream(yet again), Man City would want all of their remaining stars to be in the best possible shape for the coming season.
But Manchester being one of the hotspots for the Pandemic in the UK and a vaccine still not on the cards, chances are that we will see a bit more of the Covid-19 undoing the plans of our clubs.
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Mahrez and Laporte join the likes of Paul Pogba, David Silva, and Tanguy Ndombele among the stars who have fallen victim to the Coronavirus.
Emergency at Etihad:
Man City surely have their task cut out and while City officials are hopeful of the duo getting fit before their opening fixture against Wolves, it remains to be seen whether Pep Guardiola would risk given how important the duo is for City’s title challenge.
However, with Nathan Ake already a part of the Blues, chances are that Laporte would be saved for more important fixtures.
The last season had shown that while City’s attack is second to none, what really let them down was their below-par defense. With the Napoli defender, Kalidou Koulibally looking to be Etihad bound , the chances are that Manchester City would surely give Liverpool a run for their money this season, should all the pieces fall in place for Guardiola.
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