Guardiola’s Rest Day, City’s Calm: How a Training Break Became a Champions League Newsflash

What happened before the Dortmund clash

A British report on Tuesday said Manchester City escaped UEFA punishment after scrapping the last training session ahead of their Champions League meeting with Borussia Dortmund.

City will host Dortmund on Wednesday at the Etihad, in the fourth group-stage round, as both sides chase a steady path in Europe.

UEFA rules say media may attend a team's pre-match training for at least 15 minutes the day before a European game. Yet for the first time, Pep Guardiola opted to give his squad a rest day 24 hours before a continental fixture.

According to the Manchester Evening News, City sent 15 minutes of Monday training clips to UEFA, a move accepted as a substitute for a full on-pitch session, allowing players to recover instead.

City had completed a routine recovery session on Monday after beating Bournemouth 3-1 on Sunday, before Guardiola informed the squad of the decision.

The manager seems to have made this choice to protect the players’ fitness ahead of the tournament’s fourth match.

Guardiola had never previously canceled a training session on the eve of a European match.

Despite the rest, at least one player will still be required to be present in club facilities this evening for the pre-match press conference, in line with UEFA regulations.

City sit seventh in the Champions League group with 7 points, while Dortmund occupy sixth, level on points but behind on goal difference.

Guardiola’s quirks and the rebuilding season

Breaking the rules

Guardiola is regarded as one of football’s greatest minds, not only for his triumphs with Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City, but also for the unusual routines that characterize his daily and professional life.

Among his defining traits is an obsession with tiny details; he often spends hours after training watching video footage and analyzing players’ movements frame by frame, hunting for any minor element that could swing the next game.

He is known to alter tactics for a single observation in a clip, sometimes shifting roles mid-game, which some call tactical insanity.

He has even rearranged positions—defenders becoming playmakers, wingers becoming holding midfielders—in a constant search for fresh solutions that paralyze opponents.

Even in daily life, he cherishes solitude and often walks long distances after matches to clear his mind.

Wiping the slate clean

Entering the 2025-2026 season, Guardiola found himself in an unfamiliar corner since taking charge in 2016, after a season described as “catastrophic” on several fronts.

The team that once dominated domestic and European competitions found itself out of the title race early last season, one of the club’s roughest spells under the Spanish coach.

The downturn wasn’t the result of a single factor; it was a confluence of physical and mental fatigue among players and staff after years of relentless pressure, plus a few underwhelming signings and injuries, especially in central areas.

The result was an early European exit and a slide in the league standings, forcing Guardiola to rethink everything.

During the summer, Guardiola launched a project to rebuild the squad both technically and mentally, reintroducing discipline in the locker room and pushing the administration to bring in younger, hungrier players, while leaning on academy products such as Rico Lewis and Oscar Bob.

He also shifted his philosophy somewhat—from total possession to a more pragmatic, high-press approach, with a stronger emphasis on pressure and efficiency.

psychologically, he stressed that restoring Manchester City’s identity was more important than chasing trophies alone, saying, “City must feel hungry again—the hunger to play, not just for titles.”

As everyone watches how his new approach unfolds, one thing remains certain: Guardiola’s unique mindset does not quit easily.

After a difficult spell, he seeks to revive Manchester City’s spirit and prove that true greatness isn’t measured only by silverware but by the ability to rise after a fall.

Through 10 Premier League games, City remain resolute among the contenders, sitting second with 19 points, six behind leaders Arsenal.

In Europe, City have already won twice and drawn once, a strong start Guardiola hopes to protect through the group phase to secure a straight path to the knockout rounds and avoid last season’s woes.