Pep Guardiola's last-minute decision to cancel Man City training has already been justified

Manchester City have cancelled a training session one day before their clash against Real Madrid with Pep Guardiola perhaps having a good reason for doing so

Pep Guardiola has called off a Manchester City training session just a day before their crucial Champions League second-leg match against Real Madrid. His team currently trails 3-0 on aggregate, but Guardiola has successfully employed this training tactic before.

City were thoroughly outplayed during their visit to the Bernabeu last week and now face a monumental task as Real Madrid arrive at the Etihad. The squad was scheduled to train on Monday morning following a 1-1 draw away at West Ham on Saturday evening, but this open session was subsequently cancelled.

It has been reported that City will provide UEFA with 15 minutes of footage from Sunday's training session for broadcasters to utilise, and will concentrate all their efforts on Tuesday to ensure fresh minds and bodies.

Guardiola seldom cancels sessions, but did so last November, the day before City took on Dortmund in the Champions League. The additional rest proved beneficial, as his side emerged 4-1 winners.

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He may be hoping that history repeats itself and aids City in overcoming the significant challenge they face on Tuesday evening. In November, City had just faced Bournemouth in the Premier League and Guardiola opted to call off a Monday session, as he did this week. He stated at the time: "We will train tomorrow morning [the day of the Dortmund game].

"I've done it a few times - maybe not a lot but a few times. Bournemouth was so demanding that I prefer they stay at home and tomorrow morning we train. No one is going to change the schedule because we have a lot of competitions, so it is what it is."

A Phil Foden double and goals from Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki secured a 4-1 victory the day after this previous cancelled session. This time around, Guardiola will be hoping his well-rested team can overturn a three-goal deficit.

Speaking after the draw with West Ham, he said: "If they don't believe [in a comeback], it's a problem. They are adults. They have good salaries. If they don't believe in that in the Champions League, go home, stay home.

"We have to try. What do we have to lose? Madrid never came back in history? I don't know how many, 50 Champions League games, they never came back from 3-0?

"Of course, it was a tough result. But we have to try, for respect for the people and for fans and for our job, you know? We have to try to be more clinical.

"We have to take a step forward in that sense. I think we have the rest of it. We have the football, the ability to create chances," he continued.

"It's true that the other day we couldn't do it but we have to lift the team, because Tuesday is an important game, and above all, the team believes."