Manchester City have struck a unique deal with UEFA to avoid punishment after manager Pep Guardiola decided to cancel a pre-match training session ahead of their Champions League clash against Borussia Dortmund. Guardiola made the call on Monday, believing the squad would benefit from a rest day on Tuesday following a session after their Premier League match against Bournemouth.
UEFA regulations require clubs to open their pre-match training to the media for at least 15 minutes, as outlined in Article 79 of the competition's rules. The rules state that if a club does not hold a full training session, alternative arrangements must be made. To comply, City sent 15 minutes of footage from Monday's training to UEFA, which broadcasters can use, and the governing body accepted this alternative.
Despite the day off, Guardiola and one player will still fulfil their media duties with a press conference on Tuesday. Guardiola is expected to explain his reasoning for skipping the training session and provide updates from Sunday's game. The squad had trained on Monday at the City Football Academy, with those who did not start the weekend match undergoing a more intense workout.
City are aiming to secure a top-eight spot in the Champions League league phase to guarantee direct qualification for the last 16. They face Dortmund on Wednesday and then Leverkusen later this month. Captain Bernardo Silva said after a win in Villarreal last month, 'We want this season to qualify in the top eight. We know how important it is to not have those two extra games.'
