Man Utd players test positive for Covid amid outbreak to put Brentford in doubt

Manchester United have shut down their training ground after a Covid outbreak at the club.

United confirmed the move, after several players and staff returned positive lateral flow tests at the club's Carrington training complex on Sunday.

Discussions between United and the Premier League are ongoing over whether Tuesday's Premier League game at Brentford can go ahead, with a decision expected later today.

A statement released by United said: "Manchester United can confirm that following PCR test confirmation of yesterday's positive later flow test Covid-19 cases among the first team staff and players, the decision has been taken to close down first team operations at the Carrington Training Complex for 24 hours, to minimise risk of any further infection.

"Individuals who tested positive are isolating per Premier League protocols.

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"Given cancellation of training and disruption to the squad, and with the health of players and staff the priority, The Club is in discussion with the Premier League whether it is safe for Tuesday's fixture against Brentford to continue, both from a covid infection and player preparation perspective. Team and staff travel to London will be deferred pending the result of that discussion."

Rangnick would be happy for United to clinch another "dirty away win" at Brentford if the match does go ahead.

The Red Devils have won both of their Premier League fixtures under the German coach by a 1-0 score, beating Crystal Palace at home and coming through a stiff examination away to Norwich on Saturday.

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Asked about the importance of another shut-out, Rangnick, speaking after the victory at Carrow Road, said: "It can only be achieved as a whole team. It is not only the back four, the goalkeeper and the two sixes.

"The whole team has to defend in unison together and as I said so far we had two clean sheets in the league. We win 1-0 again in a difficult game.

"We tend to call those games the dirty away wins, 1-0. Those normally are the nicest ones but in the second half, in my opinion, we just conceded too many corner kicks and free kicks from the side.

"So therefore until the last minute it was a game that could have gone in the other direction and we needed a fantastic goalkeeper, a few headers in the centre of defence to keep the clean sheet."