Manchester City cancel final training session before Borussia Dortmund showdown | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has taken a significant decision this week in cancelling Manchester City’s final training session before the Champions League meeting with Borussia Dortmund.

The move comes at a time when City are continuing to balance the demands of a packed fixture schedule while attempting to maintain momentum in both the Premier League and European competition.

With injuries having already affected squad depth during the early stages of the season and several key players exerting heavy workload minutes, Pep Guardiola appears to have prioritised energy preservation this week.

Manchester City have been working towards consistency in recent matches, with strong second-half performances becoming a particular focus, and protecting player fitness may be seen as crucial in sustaining their upturn in form.

With confidence high from recent results and the rhythm of the squad seemingly settled, the Catalan coach has taken a rare step in trusting the existing groundwork and recovery process within his squad.

According to the information of MailSport’s Jack Gaughan, Pep Guardiola has opted to hand his Manchester City players a day off before their meeting with Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night.

Having undertaken a routine recovery session on Monday after Sunday’s 3-1 win against Bournemouth, the City boss informed the squad that they would have Tuesday off from work with a view towards keeping legs fresh ahead of matchday four in European competition.

The report notes that this is the first time that Pep Guardiola has cancelled a training session on the eve of a European fixture, while it remains to be seen whether he holds a light session on Wednesday morning ahead of the clash with the German side.

Looking ahead, the decision could reflect Pep Guardiola’s confidence in his squad’s tactical maturity, particularly with several players now in their third, fourth, or fifth seasons under his methods.

The likes of Rodri, Ruben Dias, Phil Foden, Erling Haaland, and Bernardo Silva have become particularly dependable leaders in preparation and mentality, reducing the need for late-stage drilling before major continental matches.

However, the move will also place a spotlight on Manchester City’s performance against the German giants this week, and a positive result will reinforce belief in rest-focused preparation, especially with crucial domestic fixtures looming.

Conversely, any signs of sluggishness or disorganisation may raise questions as to whether routine should have been maintained. Pep Guardiola’s approach to squad management throughout the busy winter period will now be closely monitored, particularly given the importance of rhythm and sharpness at elite level.

Beyond the clash with Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City will then turn back to Premier League duties at the weekend as they welcome Liverpool to the Etihad Stadium in their final fixture before the November international break.