In a rare move, the manager prioritizes rest over training, trusting his squad to be fresh for the crucial Dortmund encounter.
Pep Guardiola has taken his players by surprise, granting his Manchester City squad an unprecedented day off on the eve of their crucial Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund. The decision, announced after a routine recovery session on Monday, breaks from the manager’s long-standing pre-European match routine.
The move is seen as a direct response to the intense fixture schedule that Guardiola has frequently criticized. Instead of a final, intense training session on Tuesday, players have been instructed to rest and recuperate, with a potential light, tactical walkthrough planned for Wednesday morning just hours before the kickoff at the Etihad Stadium.
This isn’t the first time Guardiola has trusted his squad with extra rest before a major test. The strategy famously paid off two years ago with a decisive 4-1 win over Aston Villa that propelled the team to a league title. The City boss is clearly hoping for a similar result as his team looks to secure a dominant position in their Champions League group.
The break comes at an opportune time, as City’s injury concerns are slowly easing. Key players like Rayan Cherki are returning to the fold, with midfielder Mateo Kovacic being the only notable absentee from the squad that secured an impressive 3-1 win over Bournemouth last Sunday.
A victory against Dortmund would see City reach 10 points in the group stage, a marked improvement on their campaign last season and a strong statement of their intent to reclaim European football’s top prize.
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