COVID-19 outbreak derails Manchester United’s trip to Brentford, to be rescheduled


COVID-19 outbreak derails Manchester United’s trip to Brentford, to be rescheduled

Manchester United’s midweek clash against Brentford has been postponed after a COVID-19 outbreak in the first team players and staff. There were a number of positive COVID tests in the United camp over the last 24 hours and keeping players and staff’s safety the top priority the game on Tuesday evening will not ahead as planned.

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The news about a COVID-19 outbreak at Manchester United first came to light after their 1-0 win away from home at Norwich. However following this the first team’s training complex the Carrington was closed for 24 hours on Sunday after the club informed Premier League about the situation.

However United’s first team players and staff believe that the game against Brentford on Tuesday will be postponed and pushed ahead to a further date. According to the schedule the players were set to travel to Brentford on Tuesday morning. The club then released an official statement regarding the whole situation and the postponement of the fixture. “Manchester United can confirm that our Premier League fixture at Brentford FC, on Tuesday 14 December at 19:30, has been postponed and will be rescheduled in due course.

“A decision was taken to close first-team operations at the Carrington Training Complex for 24 hours to help minimise risk of further infection, and individuals who tested positive are isolating in line with Premier League protocols. Manchester United regrets the inconvenience caused to Brentford FC and to the fans of both clubs by Covid-19.”

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After Spurs now Manchester United are forced to postpone their fixture due to a COVID-19 outbreak

Tottenham’s Harry Kane(left) and Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo(right)

After Spurs had their fixture against Burnley postponed on 28th November due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the first team players and staff, it is Manchester United who are running at the same risk as their trip to Brentford postponed by the Premier League. If the situation at Manchester United does not improve in the coming days their home game against Brighton will also run the risk of being postponed to a further date.

Given the already tough schedule of the Premier League and Manchester United still in the Champions League and FA Cup the fixture reschedule will be difficult for Rangnick and his team in the new year. With the increasing COVID-19 cases in the Premier League who knows the league could be suspended soon until the situation is back under control. Between Monday December 6 and Sunday December 12, 3,805 players and club staff were tested for COVID-19 and 42 new positive cases were recorded.

Also read: Manchester United’s away clash against Brentford in jeopardy as first-team players turn in positive tests for COVID-19