Guardiola explains surprise call before Etihad battle

March 17, 2026 Oliver Obel

Pep Guardiola has cancelled Manchester City’s scheduled Monday training session, opting to give his players additional rest ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League second leg against Real Madrid.

The City manager said the decision was influenced by a demanding travel schedule after the team returned late from recent matches. Instead of holding a light pre-match workout, Guardiola chose recovery time as his squad prepares for one of its most important games of the season.

“We were in Madrid, late in the hotel, come back in the morning, no training, yesterday [after West Ham] we came back at two or three in the morning,” Guardiola said at his press conference.

He added: “Today in the modern day, training doesn't improve a lot. I have done it two or three times this season. Before Dortmund, Fulham. Sometimes we train or stay at home. We know each other well, we practice many things.”

City will train on Tuesday after completing a recovery session on Sunday.

The English champions face a significant challenge at the Etihad Stadium after losing the first leg 3–0 in Madrid, where Federico Valverde scored a first-half hat-trick. Guardiola’s side must produce a comeback comparable to some of the Champions League’s most famous turnarounds, including those achieved by Roma and Liverpool in recent years.

Saturday’s 1–1 draw with West Ham also dented City’s Premier League title hopes, particularly after Arsenal secured a late victory over Everton. Guardiola watched that match from the stands while serving a suspension.

UEFA regulations normally require teams to open at least 15 minutes of their final training session to the media. However, the Manchester Evening News reported that City plan to provide broadcasters with 15 minutes of footage from Sunday’s recovery session instead.

Midfielder Bernardo Silva said the players supported Guardiola’s decision to prioritise rest before facing the 15-time European champions.

“We've done it in the past plenty of times when we lost games, when we won games, when the manager felt that it was the best for the team,” Silva said.

“And with all the trips that we had this week, I think he just thought that it would be best for us to sleep better, to stay at home one more day, to free a bit our minds and come back tomorrow, stronger and ready for the game.”

Following the Madrid tie, City will turn their attention to the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal at Wembley on March 22.

Sources: SportsBible; Manchester Evening News