Pep Guardiola has opted to give his Manchester City squad a day off following a grueling travel schedule, prioritizing recovery ahead of their attempt to overturn a 3-0 deficit against Real Madrid.
Pep Guardiola has defended his decision to cancel training today as Manchester City prepare for a critical Champions League second leg against Real Madrid.
Facing a three-goal deficit, the manager insisted that physical rest is currently more valuable than tactical drills due to a congested fixture list.
Guardiola explained: “It’s not like repetition of training will make us play better in the game against Madrid.”
The squad returned from London in the early hours of Sunday following a 1-1 draw with West Ham. City players will resume light activity tomorrow afternoon instead of a full session.
Stressing the demands of the modern schedule, Guardiola noted: “Today in modern football, the top teams don’t train to improve a lot because we don’t have time to train.” The team remains focused on recovery.