Pep Guardiola would rather see games postponed than played behind closed doors as coronavirus continues to disrupt sporting events around the world.
Serie A has been suspended while LaLiga and Ligue 1 will play matches behind closed doors and Champions League and Europa League fixtures are following suit.
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Pep Guardiola was asked about coronavirus at his press conference on Tuesday
Man City manager Guardiola thinks it is inevitable there will be disruption in the UK.
He said: “We are conscious because it happens already in Italy, the league is suspended and in Spain the games behind closed doors. I think it’s going to happen here.
“We have to ask if it works to play football without spectators. If the people do not come to watch the games there is no sense I wouldn’t like to play in the Champions League, Premier League, cups, without people. We will follow the instructions.
“We are here for the people. One games, two games, maybe, but not longer. We do it for the people. I would not love to play without people in the stadium.
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“If the UEFA say you have to play without spectators then we are going to play without spectators. But the health is the most important thing.
“When I was a little boy in the school I play with no people watching me. But never for coronavirus!”
It is business as normal for now, however, with City facing Arsenal in their rearranged Premier League clash on Wednesday.
The game was originally due to be played on March 1 but was postponed because of the Carabao Cup final.
The two teams will instead meet at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.
Kevin De Bruyne is still an injury doubt for the match and he has been out of action with a shoulder injury since the cup final.
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Kevin De Bruyne has missed Man City’s last two games
Guardiola added: “Kevin has been training the last two days. I don’t know if he’ll be able to play but we have another (training session) in the morning.”
Guardiola also gave an update on the injury to Leroy Sane, who hasn’t played since August due to picking up an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the Community Shield match with Liverpool.
He said: “He [Sane] is getting better week by week. I am excited to have him back.
“He is not injured, he is training. He can play, the issue is the lack of rhythm, the tempo. He was ready weeks ago.”
Man City will also welcome back former assistant Mikel Arteta to the Etihad after he left the club to take over at Arsenal in December.
Guardiola added: “I was convinced he would be a manager when the opportunity comes and this was the opportunity for him.
“His ideas are already in the team, his positional play is getting better. I’m convinced Arsenal will get better.”
When asked if he has kept in regular contact with Arteta, Guardiola replied: “Very often. He doesn’t need my help. We talk about everything, family, friends, colleagues, how he’s settling the team.”
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