Enlarge image
Team manager Steven Gerrard
Photo:
CHRIS RADBURN / REUTERS
Team manager Steven Gerrard will be absent from Aston Villa's next two games in the English Premier League.
The long-time national player and former Liverpool FC star has tested positive for the corona virus.
"Aston Villa can confirm that head coach Steven Gerrard will not be able to play the next two Premier League games against Chelsea and Leeds United as he will be isolated after testing positive for COVID-19," his club said the night before the game .
Gerrard will not be able to look after his team on Sunday, the traditional matchday on Boxing Day, against Chelsea (6.30 p.m. CET).
The 41-year-old will also be in quarantine at Leeds United on Tuesday.
However, it is not yet clear whether this encounter can even take place after a corona outbreak near Leeds.
Aston Villa also had several Covid 19 cases recently, so the game against Burnley FC on December 18 was canceled.
Gerrard took over the seven-time English champions Aston Villa in November and took them to tenth place after four wins in six games.
Only against the top teams Manchester City (1: 2) and Liverpool (0: 1) were defeats.
In total, the Premier League has to find catch-up dates for 13 games - including three games that were scheduled for Boxing Day.
The scheduled match between Burnley FC and Everton FC had been canceled.
The league announced on Friday.
The games between Liverpool FC and Leeds United and between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Watford FC had previously been canceled.
Meanwhile, the team managers are criticizing the league.
Tottenham's Antonio Conte said a virtual crisis meeting was a waste of time.
"The decision" about the game plan had already been made before the talks.
On Monday the league decided to keep the dates over the holidays with the traditional Boxing Day (December 26th).
ara / sid