Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed that new signing Alex Telles has tested positive for Coronavirus.
When the Manchester United teamsheet hit Twitter on Wednesday evening quite a few eyebrows were raised due to Alex Telles’ exclusion from the squad – largely because, since his move to Old Trafford, he’s impressed the Red Devils’ faithful.
Following the Red Devils’ astonishingly impressive 5-0 over RB Leipzig in the UEFA Champions League, Solskjaer has confirmed that Alex Telles was not included in the matchday squad due to the full back contracting COVID-19.
“Telles has tested positive for coronavirus, he’s been out for a few days. No symptoms, he’ll be fine, back soon.”
In Telles’ absence, Man Utd ran riot at Old Trafford. Goals from Mason Greenwood and Anthony Martial, and marvellous Marcus Rashford hat trick, gave the Red Devils another shock three points in this season’s Champions League ‘group of death’.
The win moves them onto six points after two UCL matchdays, having already beaten group favourites Paris Saint-Germain away from home last week.
Speaking after the win, Solskjaer expressed his delight at Rashford’s performance (via the Guardian): “[Rashford] came on and did well. We want that from the subs. That’s only possible, though, when the others have laid the ground work. What a shift they put in, because Leipzig do make you work.
“We had to really dig deep and work hard for each other. Spaces open up when you’re winning. Today we had to rest a few because this season is relentless so we had to use the squad …. This group is coming together. The more quality and spirit you have, the better chance you have of [getting] a performance.”
“We made some changes today because of Sunday [against Arsenal in the Premier League] because we’ve played a game less than everyone else in the league and we need to pick up points.”