Guardiola Breaks Routine: A Bold Pre-Dordmund Move Sparks City’s Prep

Breaking the routine before Dortmund

Pep Guardiola, Manchester City's manager, pulled off an unconventional move just ahead of the clash with Borussia Dortmund, scheduled to take place at the Etihad on Wednesday as part of the Champions League group stage. With only a day to go before kickoff, the Spanish coach made an uncharacteristic decision that has sparked discussion.

According to the Daily Mail, Guardiola granted his players a day off, meaning they would not train on Tuesday evening, a choice described as controversial. Players had returned to City’s training complex on Monday after Sunday’s Premier League win over Bournemouth when the decision was conveyed.

The report suggests the aim was to ease the heavy load in a packed schedule, a concern Guardiola has voiced many times. The paper also notes that it would be unusual for Guardiola to cancel a main training session before a European match, implying a light morning session on match day and a tactical briefing ahead of Dortmund.

Even with the day off, at least one player will still report to the club in the evening to accompany Guardiola at the pre-match press conference, in line with UEFA rules. City arrive with seven points, sitting seventh, just behind Dortmund on goal difference, ahead of a big test in Europe.

Breaking the Rules

Guardiola is considered one of football's greatest minds, not only for trophies but also for habits that border on the eccentric. His obsession with tiny details means he can spend hours after training watching footage and analyzing movements at the second-by-second level, seeking any detail that could influence the next game. He’s known to alter positions mid-game for players—an approach some call tactical madness. Even in his private life, he enjoys solitude and often walks long distances after matches to clear his mind.

Reset and Rebuild

Guardiola's 2025-2026 season is portrayed as a reset after a misstep, with City moving to rebuild discipline in the dressing room and focus on younger, hungrier players like Rico Lewis and Oscar Bob. Philosophically, he shifted from pure possession to a more pragmatic, pressing style while placing greater emphasis on the psychological side, insisting City must feel hungry again to play—not merely chase trophies. After 10 Premier League games, City sit second with 19 points, six behind Arsenal. In Europe, City have won twice and drawn once, a start Guardiola wants to sustain through the group stage to reach the Round of 16 and avoid last season's missteps.

As everyone awaits how this reshaped approach translates on the pitch, Guardiola’s signature blend of meticulous preparation and surprise decisions remains a talking point for fans and rivals alike. The calendar may be chaotic, but his calendar-scrambling philosophy seems, at least for now, to be very much in play.

Punchlines

1) If Guardiola’s plan were a pizza, it would be loaded with extra pressing and no slices of rest. 2) He breaks routines so often that even his calendar needs a calendar—watch this space, and maybe buy a ruler.