March 14 (Reuters) – Bruno Fernandes has tested positive for COVID-19 and is now in a “last minute scramble” to be fit for Manchester United’s Champions League round of 16 second leg against Atletico Madrid. Madrid, said coach Ralf Rangnick.
Fernandes, who has nine goals and 14 assists for Manchester this season, missed the 3-2 win against Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend, along with teammates Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay.
Giving an update on the trio’s status, Rangnick said Bruno’s absence was caused by a positive COVID-19 test.
“With Scotty, I hope (he’s fit) but he had some calf muscle issues,” Rangnick said. “That’s why we decided not to play him (against the Spurs), because Scotty … is only valuable if he can perform at 100% of his physical ability.”
“Hopefully Luke will be back in training on Monday, and with Bruno we’ll have to wait until Tuesday. It will probably be a last minute race with him, due to COVID-19.”
“We have to be careful with COVID-19 tests. The same thing happened to David (de Gea). David was out yesterday, he wasn’t supposed to play but then it turned out that his first quick test was false.”
Anthony Elanga saved Manchester’s draw (1-1) in the first leg against Atlético, in February, with a goal that gave them the equalizer in the last minutes, leaving the tie very even for the second leg.
(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; editing by Tom Hogue, translated by José Muñoz in the Gdańsk newsroom)
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