Atletico Madrid coach Quique Sanchez Flores confirmed with Swine Flu

Atletico Madrid coach Quique Sanchez Flores was confirmed to have contaminated with the A/H1N1 Swine Flu virus on Tuesday evening.

Quique was unable to take Thursday's training session as a result of his illness and it is doubtful whether or not he will be able to sit in the dugout for Saturday's Primera Liga match away to Deportivo la Corua.

Earlier in the day, club president Enrique Cerezo unconfirmed whether or not his coach had the A/H1N1 virus.

"He has a flue virus, but we don't know if it is a A, B or C virus", joked Cerezo.

44-year-old Quique, who has also coached Getafe and Valencia, was appointed Atletico coach after the sacking of Abel Resino at the end of October and after defeats to Athletic Club Bilbao and local rivals Real Madrid, has yet to win a league match in charge of his new club.

He has however, guided Atletico into the last 16 of the King's Cup after an 8-0 aggregate win over third tier side Marbella.

The A/H1N1 virus has had a limited effect on Spanish soccer to date. Second division side Betis was forced to postpone a league match three weeks ago because of over 10 suspected cases of the virus among its squad.

Meanwhile Primera Liga side Osasuna currently has two players sidelined because of the illness.

Spain began a campaign of vaccination against the virus, which has claimed 88 lives in the country, on Monday.

Source: Xinhua