Manchester City’s preseason starts with a Preston North End friendly and Pep Guardiola had a plan to test some of the youngsters combined with the first team players. It all went to pieces after some bad news hit Etihad Campus.Academy building at City’s training ground had to be shut down due to Covid19 outbreak.According to The Athletic, Manchester City have shut down a section of their training base and authorised a deep clean after several academy starlets tested positive for Covid-19.The Premier League champion’s youth selections had their plans regarding training and travels completely altered after five players tested positive for Covid19.First coronavirus case hits Tokyo Olympics VillageThose who came out with negative tests initially kept on training at the club’s ground, however further positive cases closed off the academy building for the next 10 days.Players with positive tests will now self isolate and be monitored on site, in an area separate to where the first team is located while access to staff members and other players will be restricted.Now, the 2021-22 campaign plans for the Under-18 and Under-23’s are in danger – young talents who tested negative have been told to stay away from the training ground and are not be able to put in the preparatory work.Younger Man City selections are not the only ones affected. Guardiola had hoped to use some youngsters in the friendly against Preston North End on July 27.However, it is not certain that they will be available for that game due to some players self isolating for at least 10 days.Giroud says a farewell to Chelsea fans amid his AC Milan arrivalThe Spaniard was sort of forced to look into the academy roster since a whole host of first team City players featured in either the Euro 2020 or Copa America. The only senior players due to return on Monday will be Benjamin Mendy, Fernandinho, Joao Cancelo and Zack Steffen.The cases of coronavirus have sent a ripple of concern through the top-flight and football league, as clubs prepare for the start of the new season in August.League executives are urging players to take their Covid vaccinations, which public health experts say is the best way to ensure the new season goes ahead with minimal disruption.It is not a little number of those reluctant to do so as they state they have concerns about the vaccination process and the possible side effects.
