Skip to content

Coronavirus: Man City's Ilkay Gundogan among three positive Premier League tests

Total of 1,574 players and club staff members tested between September 14-20

Ilkay Gundogan will miss Manchester City's opening Premier League game against Wolves after testing positive for coronavirus
Image: Ilkay Gundogan missed Manchester City's opening Premier League game against Wolves

Manchester City have confirmed Ilkay Gundogan has contracted coronavirus as the latest round of testing returned three positive tests.

The midfielder is observing a 10-day period of self-isolation in accordance with Premier League and UK Government protocol on quarantine.

Between Monday September 14 and Sunday September 20, a total of 1,574 players and club staff members were given tests.

Gundogan is likely to miss three matches for City while he self-isolates, including Thursday's Carabao Cup game against Bournemouth and Sunday's Premier League game against Leicester City.

The German is the third member of Pep Guardiola's squad to test positive for the virus, following winger Riyad Mahrez and defender Aymeric Laporte.

Both players returned to training last week but only Mahrez was in the squad to face Wolves, being named among the substitutes for the Monday Night Football clash.

ONE MILLION POUNDS! Can you imagine?
ONE MILLION POUNDS! Can you imagine?

You read correctly. Do not miss your chance to scoop £1m for free in this week's Super 6 round. Play for free, entries by 3pm Saturday.

Gundogan is a regular starter in City's midfield and made 49 appearances in all competitions last term as well as being a key part of the treble-winning side the year before.

Also See:

Gundogan also started this season on international duty with Germany - playing in both 1-1 Nations League draws against Spain and Switzerland, and scoring in the game against the latter.

Manchester City gave no further details of Gundogan's condition, only adding: "Everyone at the club wishes Ilkay a speedy recovery."

Pep Guardiola Manchester City

Can Man City close the gap on Liverpool?

Manchester City begin their new Premier League campaign live on Monday Night Football when they travel to Wolves, aiming to close the 18-point gap that separated them from Liverpool last season.

After winning the Premier League for two successive seasons, City stumbled last year as Jurgen Klopp's side raced away with the title.

Ahead of Man City's trip to Wolves, live on Sky Sports, the pundits gave their own pre-season assessment of what Pep Guardiola's team need to compete and whether they can really challenge this season...

Read the full article here.

Wolves vs Man City
Image: Manchester City take on Wolves live on Sky Sports on Monday night

How does Pep regain the title?

By Adam Bate

Pep Guardiola has never regained a league title in his coaching career. In fairness, he has never even attempted it before. The only previous occasion he surrendered the crown was in his final season at Barcelona prior to his sabbatical. This is new territory for him.

It is rare for anyone to accomplish it in the modern European game. The increased turnover in managers, coupled with the monopoly in existence in France, Germany and Italy, means that few find themselves in this position of being asked to win back something lost.

Save over 25% with NOW TV
Save over 25% with NOW TV

Catch the Premier League season on Sky Sports for just £25 p/m for 12 months - cancel anytime

There was a time when it was common. Stan Cullis and Matt Busby regained the English title. Don Revie did it and so did Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley. Howard Kendall and Kenny Dalglish traded the trophy, while George Graham regained it with Arsenal in 1991.

Only two managers have done that in the same stint at the same club during the Premier League era. Arsene Wenger managed it once with Arsenal. Sir Alex Ferguson did it no fewer than five times with Manchester United. Perhaps he is the man to defer to on such matters.

Summer transfer window - key dates and times

The summer transfer window closes at 11pm on Monday October 5 with a feast of activity lined up on Transfer Deadline Day on Sky Sports News and across our Sky Sports platforms.

A domestic-only window for deals between the Premier League and EFL then runs from October 5 and closes on Friday October 16 at 5pm. Follow all the news and analysis on SSN and across Sky Sports' digital platforms, including with our dedicated Transfer Centre blog.

ONE MILLION POUNDS! Can you imagine?
ONE MILLION POUNDS! Can you imagine?

You read correctly. Do not miss your chance to scoop £1m for free in this week's Super 6 round. Play for free, entries by 3pm Saturday.

Around Sky