Pep Guardiola Speaks Out to 'Football Family' as Coronavirus Pauses Season

30 March 2020 20:44

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has predicted how humanity will look once the coronavirus outbreak has been quelled, as he urges fans to stay indoors during the pandemic.

Football has been suspended across the world as a result of the disease, with the Premier League not returning until 30 April at the very earliest.

Manchester City have not been training together since the Premier League suspension was announced in mid-March.

Pep Guardiola

In a video released on the club's ​official Twitter account, Guardiola said: “We miss football. We miss the life that we had a few days ago but now is the time to listen, to follow our scientists, doctors and nurses.


“You are my football family and we are going to do everything possible to make you feel better. We’ll come back from this stronger, better, kinder...and a little bit fatter. Stay inside, stay safe.”

Guardiola joins numerous ​Manchester City players who have taken to social media over the last week to similarly warn the public to stay inside, including ​Raheem Sterling, Benjamin Mendy and Aymeric Laporte.

The Spaniard last week donated €1m to help fight the disease in his home country, while Manchester United and Manchester City joined forced to donate £100,000 to local food banks.


City have also offered the use of the ​Etihad Stadium's conference rooms and boxes to the NHS for staff training, following the likes of Chelsea and Real Madrid, who have also offered up the use of their facilities to help combat the coronavirus.


The Citizens were 25 points behind leaders Liverpool when the season was placed on pause, with the defence of their title all but over.

General Views of Sport Venues after events postponed due to Covid-19

One suggestion in the wake of the outbreak has been to declare the season null and void - which would be of benefit to City as it would mean that they would not relinquish their crown.


Despite this, midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has admitted that handing Liverpool the title is ​the most sporting thing to do. 

Source: 90min